ALMERE HAVEN

Features

• Shopping center Winkelcentrum Almere Haven with smaller shops

• Weekly market at Markt and Brink every Friday 9am-2pm

• Restaurants and cafés at Sluiskade with harbor views

• Marina and small harbor (Havenkom)

• Canal houses along Kerkgracht (styled after Amsterdam)

Neighbourhoods

Almere Haven is the oldest city part (stadsdeel) of Almere, though the first houses were actually built in what is now Oostvaardersdiep in Almere Buiten. Development began here in 1976, making it the starting point of Almere's expansion.

The area has a shopping centre designed to resemble a small town centre. In the centre, along a waterway called Kerkgracht, there are buildings styled like Amsterdam's traditional canal houses. This design choice was made because the original residents in 1975 had moved from Amsterdam, and planners wanted to create a familiar environment.

• Haven Centrum

• De Gouwen

• De Grienden

• De Hoven

• De Laren

• De Marken

• De Meenten

• De Velden

• De Werven

• De Wierden

• Overgooi

Bus Connections

GETTING AROUND

• M1 (Havenmetro): Main bus line connecting to Almere Centrum

  • Runs every 10 minutes

  • Journey time: 15 minutes to Almere Centrum station

  • Operating hours: 04:13-02:03 daily

  • Cost: €5-6 per journey

• 327 (R-net): Direct connection to Amsterdam Amstel

• Bus stops throughout the neighborhood - almost every area has access

Train & Bus Connections

• Almere Haven does not have its own railway station

• The closest train station is Almere Centrum which can be easily reached from all neighbourhoods with bus M1

Train Connection

Driving & Parking

Cycling

• All residential streets are cul-de-sacs (dead-end streets)

• Single hidden ring road provides car access in and out of Haven

• Noorderdreef - main ring road with rush hour traffic congestion

• Street parking - Available throughout residential areas

• Shopping center parking - At Winkelcentrum Almere Haven

• Harbor area parking - Near restaurants and marina at Sluiskade

• Separate dedicated bike paths throughout Haven

• Direct cycle lanes connect to surrounding forests

• Safe cycling routes to other Almere districts

• Bike parking available at shopping center and bus stops

• Forest routes - Access to Beginbos and Waterlandsebos

• Lakeside cycling - Along Gooimeer waterfront

• Inter-city routes - Connections to Almere Centrum (15-20 minutes)

• Dike paths - Traditional Dutch cycling along water barriers

What to Expect

LIFE IN ALMERE HAVEN

• Might be more affordable than newer districts but be ready for tight housing market competition

• 1970s idealistic design with focus on green living

• Green space views and gardens

• Older architecture that may need updates

• Quiet, established neighborhood character

• Parking typically included

Housing & Living

• Canal-style-inspired houses along Kerkgracht

• Family homes with gardens

• Townhouses around parks

• Apartments near shopping

• Original 1976-1980s builds

Housing Types

Parks & Nature

WELLBEING

• Vroege Vogelbos

• Waterlandsebos

• Beginbos - with an MTB route

• Gooimeer and Gooimeerdijk for cycling

• Almere Haven beach

Nature & Recreation

EDUCATION

Schools in Almere Haven

Like other neighbourhoods in Almere, Almere Haven has a good selection of schools. Most schools are within walking or cycling distance from residential streets, fitting the original vision of self-contained neighbourhood clusters.