Lelystad is located in the province of Flevoland and is located on both the IJsselmeer and the Markermeer. From Lelystad you can easily reach Enkhuizen via the Houtribdijk. The city was created by building dykes and draining land. Lelystad is now about five metres below sea level and is one of the youngest municipalities in the Netherlands.  

History of Lelystad

On 29 June 1957 the drainage of the province of Flevoland was completed. Ten years later, the city of Lelystad was founded and named after Cornelis Lely, the maker of the Zuiderzee works. Around 1950 the plot P, a labour island in the middle of the IJsselmeer, was established. It served the workers, who had to dig a construction pit for a pumping station, which was used for the drainage in the east of Flevoland. This area, nowadays Lelystad Bataviahaven, is the oldest area of the city. The remaining construction of the city began in 1965. The first inhabitants arrived in Lelystad on 28 September 1967 and on 1 June 1980 the city officially became a municipality. 

Characteristics of Lelystad

Lelystad is the capital of the province of Flevoland and has more than 77,500 inhabitants. When the municipality of Lelystad was registered, it was awarded a city coat of arms. It is gold with a black honeycomb pattern. In the middle there is a blue shield with a silver lily and this coat of arms has a golden crown.

What can you do and see in Lelystad?

Within walking distance of the harbour are several restaurants and terraces. Walk a little further along the boulevard you will arrive at Batavialand. A museum where you can discover everything about the struggle of the Dutch against the water, there is a shipyard with old crafts and on the quay is the Batavia, a replica of a VOC ship.  If you prefer an afternoon of shopping, you can walk a little further to the Batavia Outlet Center. All major fashion brands can be found here at a great price! Do you want to go a little further away? Then you have to visit the Oostervaarders Plassen. A special nature reserve with wild horses and aurochs. And finally, not far from Lelystad airport is the Aviodrome Aviation Museum, where you can discover all kinds of things about the history of aviation. Even though Lelystad is a young city, there is something for everyone to do!