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Voykit pocket guide · Netherlands
Almere
Skip as a base unless you have a reason (family, Oostvaardersplassen, cheap bed): 1 night or a half-day from Amsterdam, 20–35 min by train.
Almere is the largest city in Flevoland and the biggest Dutch city built in the 20th century: land drained in the 1950s–60s and planned from a blank map from the 1970s on. There is no old town. What there is: a compact Stadshart of modern architecture, a lake coast, the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve on its edge, and a 20–35 minute train ride to Amsterdam with beds that usually cost less. Come for architecture, birds or a cheap base — not for a historic city.
- Country
- Netherlands
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (busy, pricier beds), Nov–Feb (grey and wet)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards dominate; some shops and cafés are card-only and a few supermarkets accept debit cards but not all credit cards, so carry both.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–120 excl. bed · High €120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- KPN, Vodafone and Odido run the networks; Lebara and Lyca sell cheap prepaid SIMs in supermarkets and at Schiphol.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard continental two-pin; UK and US plugs need adapters.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: 5–10% for good service; tell the server the total when paying by card.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Not expected.
- Water
- Tap water is among the best in Europe; restaurants may charge for it, so ask.
- Toilets
- Stations charge about €0.70–1; cafés expect you to buy something; free urinals (and a few public toilets) in city centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2.50–4 |
| Sandwich or broodje | €3–7 |
| Main course, mid-range restaurant | €13–22 |
| Beer: draught in a bar / supermarket can | €3–5 / €0.80–1.50 |
| Train Almere Centrum → Amsterdam Centraal, one way | about €10 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €8–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AMS · Amsterdam Schiphol
- Direct train from the station under the terminal to Almere Centrum, about 30–40 min; check the timetable.
- LEY · Lelystad Airport
- No scheduled passenger flights as of 2026; check before planning around it.
Typical fares
- Train Almere Centrum → Amsterdam Centraal
- about €10 one way, 20–35 min
- Train Schiphol → Almere Centrum
- about €12–13, 30–40 min
- Bike rental, one day
- about €10–20
Get around
Six train stations sit on the Flevolijn/Hanzelijn corridor: Almere Poort, Muziekwijk, Centrum, Parkwijk, Buiten and Oostvaarders. Sprinters stop at all of them; Intercities generally call only at Almere Centrum. City buses run on free-laying routes, roughly every 5 minutes on weekdays on the busiest lines and less often at weekends, early mornings and evenings. Bike paths cover the whole city and bikes can be rented at the bike shops at Almere Centrum and Almere Buiten stations. A car helps for the Oostvaardersplassen and the coast; the A6 and A27 meet here.
See and do
Known for
- Modern architecture in the Stadshart
- Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve
- Planned polder city with no old town
- Cheaper beds within reach of Amsterdam
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | Intercity from Almere Centrum to Amsterdam Centraal, about 20–35 min | About 45 min |
| Oostvaardersplassen | Train to Almere Oostvaarders, then walk or bike into the reserve | About 1 h |
| Lelystad | Intercity from Almere Centrum, about 15–20 min | About 30 min |
| Urk | Train to Lelystad, then bus; or drive the A6 | 1.5–2 h |
| Schokland | Train to Lelystad or Zwolle, then bus; or drive | 2 h+ |
| Naarden and Muiden | Train to Weesp or Naarden-Bussum, then bus or bike | 1–1.5 h |
Sleep
- Almere Centrum / Stadshart
- Walk to the station, shops, bars and the waterfront; the only area that works without a car.
- Almere Haven
- Small harbour centre with the Havenkom for eating and drinking; quieter, needs a bus or bike to the station.
- Almere Buiten / Oostvaarders
- Closest station to the Oostvaardersplassen; suburban, few services.
- Business parks along the A6
- Chain hotels with parking and pools; car-first, nothing within walking distance.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HalloHAH-loh |
| Thank you | Dank je weldahnk yuh vel |
| Do you speak English? | Spreekt u Engels?spraykt u ENG-uls |
| One ticket to Amsterdam, please | Een kaartje naar Amsterdam, alstublieftun KAART-yuh naar am-ster-DAM |
| Can I pay by card? | Kan ik met de kaart betalen?kan ik met duh kaart buh-TAH-lun |
| Where is the station? | Waar is het station?vaar is hut sta-SHON |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Hugging new acquaintances
- Directness: Say what you mean; expect honest, blunt answers; avoid: Taking bluntness as rudeness
- Punctuality: Be on time; diaries plan weeks ahead; avoid: Dropping in unannounced
- Money: Split bills; pay your share; avoid: Showing off wealth
- Homes: Bring flowers or a small gift; congratulate everyone at a birthday; avoid: Expecting dinner if invited for coffee
Scams and watch-outs
- There is no historic centre: if you came for old streets and canals, you are in the wrong city.
- Almere Centrum is the only station most Intercity trains stop at — check your stop before boarding.
- Hotels are few and business-oriented; in summer and on event weekends beds in Amsterdam are cheaper than a late train back.
- The Oostvaardersplassen is a nature reserve with limited public transport and no shops: bring water and check access points before setting out.
- Bicycles have priority on Dutch roads and paths; look both ways on cycle tracks.
Almere is a normal, safe Dutch city; the practical risks are cycle traffic, dark unlit paths along the water at night, and assuming a late train back from Amsterdam will exist — check the last departure.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Almere yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Modern architecture in the Stadshart
- Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve
- Planned polder city with no old town
- Cheaper beds within reach of Amsterdam
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Gemeente Almere (official city site): www.almere.nl/
- NS — Dutch Railways: www.ns.nl/en
- Wikivoyage: Almere, revision 5294054 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5294054
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Almere
Naar dit adres, alstublieft
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance112
No embassies in Almere; most are in The Hague, with consulates in Amsterdam. US citizens: check the US Embassy in The Hague.
112 works from any phone, including locked ones.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/almere). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.