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4/28/06

The European Situation Room: Focus on Almere: Celebrating Tradition and Innovation - by Rick Morren

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The European Situation Room: Focus on Almere: Celebrating Tradition and Innovation - by Rick Morren

When it comes to quality of life the city of Almere is viewed throughout Europe as a leading example of successful and revolutionary modern urban planning. This all came about when several years ago city planners and the government commissioned both leading international architects and young talented local designers to provide for innovative expressions in Almere architecture. The results so far have been spectacular. Remarkable, if one imagines that only 30 years ago the area was under water, and fishermen had a thriving industry along its coasts.

Today Almere consists of a number of urban districts, built in phases. Four major cores together with a city center form the expanding metropolis. The resulting differences in character are enhanced by wide green zones separating the urban districts. Getting from one area to the other in this modern city is easy and people and environmentally friendly, with an extensive network of bus lanes and cycle paths providing the necessary transportation links. The city center which is one of the most avant-garde in Europe is scheduled for completion by 2007.

Nel Huttenga at the Almere City Council notes: "When you look at the population of Almere it probably reflects what the Netherlands population as a whole will look like in the future. The city population is made up by young professionals, upper middle class, students and retirees, people of traditional Dutch origin and ethnic minorities. Almere is truly a multi-cultural city. We have immigrants living here from over 200 countries and about 22% of the Almere population is foreign born."

On this final Saturday of April 2006, every Dutch town and city will be the setting for what undoubtedly is the Netherlands’ most enjoyable holiday, the Queens birthday, known in the Netherlands as Queens Day! Also traditionally on this Queens Day the royal family always visits a city in one of the 12 Provinces of the Netherlands. This year Queen Beatrix will be visiting the Flevoland Province and the city of Almere.

When Almere citizens party with their queen this Saturday, they will not only celebrate the queens birthday, but also the emergence of their vibrant new multi-cultural European city on the world scene.

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