Lelystad

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City and municipality in Flevoland, Netherlands

title: "Lelystad" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["lelystad", "cities-in-the-netherlands", "municipalities-of-flevoland", "populated-places-in-flevoland", "populated-places-established-in-1967", "provincial-capitals-of-the-netherlands", "1967-establishments-in-the-netherlands"] description: "City and municipality in Flevoland, Netherlands" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lelystad" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary City and municipality in Flevoland, Netherlands ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
name
settlement_typeCity and Municipality
image_skyline
total_width280
borderinfobox
perrow1/2/2/1
caption_aligncenter
image1Lelystad-22-06-2014.jpg
caption1Aerial view of the city
image2ZuilvanLely.jpg
caption2Zuil van Lely in the city center
image320110417 Lelystad; Bataviastad 04 street.JPG
caption3Batavia Stad
image4Zilverparkkade.jpg
caption4Zilverparkkade
image520140612 Batavia replica2 Lelystad.jpg
caption5Replica of the Batavia
image6Bataviastad - Bataviahaven - Schoonzicht - ICE Photocompilation Viewing from North to West.jpg
caption6Bataviahaven
image_flagFlag of Lelystad.svg
flag_size100x67px
image_shieldLelystad wapen.svg
shield_size100x80px
shield_alt
image_mapMap - NL - Municipality code 0995 (2009).svg
map_altHighlighted position of Lelystad in a municipal map of Flevoland
map_captionLocation in Flevoland
pushpin_mapNetherlands Flevoland (plain)#Netherlands#Europe
pushpin_map_captionLocation within the Netherlands##Location within Europe
pushpin_relief1
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameNetherlands
subdivision_type1Province
subdivision_name1Flevoland
subdivision_type2Region
subdivision_name2Amsterdam metropolitan area
established_titleEstablished
established_date1 January 1967
government_footnotes{{cite web
urlhttp://www.lelystad.nl/4/College/Portefeuilleverdeling.html
titlePortefeuilleverdeling
trans-titleTasks
languagenl
publisherGemeente Lelystad
access-date1 September 2013
archive-urlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20130910112107/http://www.lelystad.nl/4/College/Portefeuilleverdeling.html
archive-date10 September 2013
url-statusdead
governing_bodyMunicipal council
leader_partyVVD
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameHenry Meijdam
unit_pref
area_footnotes
area_total_km2
area_land_km2
area_water_km2
elevation_footnotes{{cite web
urlhttp://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
titlePostcodetool for 8232ZX
languagenl
workActueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
publisherHet Waterschapshuis
access-date1 September 2013
url-statusdead
archive-urlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20130921053543/http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
archive-date21 September 2013
elevation_m−3
elevation_max_footnotestags --
elevation_min_footnotestags --
elevation_min_m
population_footnotes
population_total
population_as_of
population_density_km2
population_demonym
timezone1CET
utc_offset1+1
timezone1_DSTCEST
utc_offset1_DST+2
postal_code_typePostcode
postal_code8200–8249
area_code_typeArea code
area_code0320
website
image_blank_emblemLelystad.svg
blank_emblem_typeBrandmark
blank_emblem_size120px
::

| name = Lelystad | settlement_type = City and Municipality | image_skyline = {{multiple image | total_width = 280 | border = infobox | perrow = 1/2/2/1 | caption_align = center | image1 = Lelystad-22-06-2014.jpg | alt1 = | caption1 = Aerial view of the city | image2 = ZuilvanLely.jpg | alt2 = | caption2 = Zuil van Lely in the city center | image3 = 20110417 Lelystad; Bataviastad 04 street.JPG | alt3 = | caption3 = Batavia Stad | image4 = Zilverparkkade.jpg | alt4 = | caption4 = Zilverparkkade | image5 = 20140612 Batavia replica2 Lelystad.jpg | alt5 = | caption5 = Replica of the Batavia | image6 = Bataviastad - Bataviahaven - Schoonzicht - ICE Photocompilation Viewing from North to West.jpg | alt6 = | caption6 = Bataviahaven | image_flag = Flag of Lelystad.svg | flag_size = 100x67px | flag_alt = | image_shield = Lelystad wapen.svg | shield_size = 100x80px | shield_alt = | image_map = Map - NL - Municipality code 0995 (2009).svg | map_alt = Highlighted position of Lelystad in a municipal map of Flevoland | map_caption = Location in Flevoland | pushpin_map = Netherlands Flevoland (plain)#Netherlands#Europe | pushpin_map_caption = Location within the Netherlands##Location within Europe | pushpin_relief = 1 | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Netherlands | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Flevoland | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Amsterdam metropolitan area | established_title = Established | established_date = 1 January 1967 | government_footnotes = {{cite web |url = http://www.lelystad.nl/4/College/Portefeuilleverdeling.html |title = Portefeuilleverdeling |trans-title = Tasks |language = nl |publisher = Gemeente Lelystad |access-date = 1 September 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130910112107/http://www.lelystad.nl/4/College/Portefeuilleverdeling.html |archive-date = 10 September 2013 |url-status = dead | governing_body = Municipal council | leader_party = VVD | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Henry Meijdam | unit_pref = Metric | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = {{cite web |url=http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title=Postcodetool for 8232ZX |language=nl |work=Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher=Het Waterschapshuis |access-date=1 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053543/http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |archive-date=21 September 2013 | elevation_m = −3 | elevation_max_footnotes = tags -- | elevation_max_m = | elevation_min_footnotes = tags -- | elevation_min_m = | population_footnotes = | population_total = | population_as_of =
| population_density_km2 =
| population_demonym = | timezone1 = CET | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = CEST | utc_offset1_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = Postcode | postal_code = 8200–8249 | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = 0320 | website = | footnotes = | image_blank_emblem = Lelystad.svg | blank_emblem_type = Brandmark | blank_emblem_size = 120px

Lelystad () is a Dutch municipality and the capital city of the province of Flevoland in the central Netherlands. The city, built on reclaimed land, was founded in 1967 and was named after Cornelis Lely, who engineered the Afsluitdijk that made the reclamation possible. Lelystad is situated approximately three metres (10 feet) below sea level.

History

Lelystad is built on the seabed of the former Zuiderzee. About 6,500 years ago, this wetland was above high tide level and inhabited; the Netherlands have steadily subsided since. Near Lelystad at Swifterbant, the oldest human skeletons in Western Europe were discovered. Due to rising water levels and storms, the peatlands were washed away, and the Lacus Flevo (in Roman times) grew to be the Almere (Middle Ages) and became the Zuiderzee. The Zuiderzee (Southern Sea) was the main transport route from Amsterdam to the North Sea and the Hanseatic League cities. Due to the many shipwrecks in Flevoland, Lelystad now houses the National Centre for Maritime History, with a museum and the shipyard that has built the Batavia replica.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Lelystad_sunset.jpg" caption="Sunset over the IJsselmeer, bordering Lelystad"] ::

After the Second World War the Zuiderzee Works continued, constructing the polder of Eastern Flevoland. In 1950 work commenced on several construction islands in the middle of the IJsselmeer. Lelystad-Haven was the largest island, and its wooden barracks housed a community of dyke-builders. In 1955 they reached the mainland, which made it possible to drive to Lelystad by car. One of the three pumping stations, which drained the polder in June 1957, was the diesel-powered Wortman in Lelystad-Haven. Until 1967 the only inhabitants of Lelystad were technical engineers and laborers and superintendents, living on the former construction island.

Demographics

Ethnic composition

Source:

Lelystad has a large population of Surinamese origin (5,225); most residents of a non-Western background live in the east of the city. Lelystad also has significant Moroccan (2,615) and Turkish (2,278) communities, most of whom reside in the northeastern part of the city. There were 2,059 residents with an Antillean background.

Climate

|location = Lelystad (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1990−present) |single line = Y |metric first = Y |collapsed = Y |Jan record high C = 14.3 |Feb record high C = 18.8 |Mar record high C = 23.2 |Apr record high C = 29.6 |May record high C = 32.2 |Jun record high C = 33.1 |Jul record high C = 37.5 |Aug record high C = 34.7 |Sep record high C = 32.0 |Oct record high C = 26.0 |Nov record high C = 19.9 |Dec record high C = 14.6 |Jan record low C = -16.6 |Feb record low C = -22.9 |Mar record low C = -17.8 |Apr record low C = -6.4 |May record low C = -1.6 |Jun record low C = 1.8 |Jul record low C = 5.0 |Aug record low C = 4.2 |Sep record low C = 2.4 |Oct record low C = -4.8 |Nov record low C = -8.3 |Dec record low C = -16.9 |Jan high C = 5.7 |Feb high C = 6.5 |Mar high C = 10.0 |Apr high C = 14.4 |May high C = 18.0 |Jun high C = 20.4 |Jul high C = 22.6 |Aug high C = 22.5 |Sep high C = 19.1 |Oct high C = 14.4 |Nov high C = 9.5 |Dec high C = 6.2 |year high C = 14.1 |Jan mean C = 3.2 |Feb mean C = 3.5 |Mar mean C = 6.0 |Apr mean C = 9.5 |May mean C = 13.2 |Jun mean C = 15.8 |Jul mean C = 17.8 |Aug mean C = 17.6 |Sep mean C = 14.6 |Oct mean C = 10.7 |Nov mean C = 6.8 |Dec mean C = 3.9 |year mean C = 10.2 |Jan low C = 0.6 |Feb low C = 0.4 |Mar low C = 2.0 |Apr low C = 4.3 |May low C = 8.0 |Jun low C = 10.8 |Jul low C = 12.7 |Aug low C = 12.4 |Sep low C = 10.1 |Oct low C = 6.9 |Nov low C = 3.9 |Dec low C = 1.4 |year low C = 6.1 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 67.7 |Feb precipitation mm = 57.2 |Mar precipitation mm = 55.1 |Apr precipitation mm = 42.3 |May precipitation mm = 57.2 |Jun precipitation mm = 67.0 |Jul precipitation mm = 91.4 |Aug precipitation mm = 92.1 |Sep precipitation mm = 74.2 |Oct precipitation mm = 76.3 |Nov precipitation mm = 69.7 |Dec precipitation mm = 73.9 |year precipitation mm = 824.1 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = |Feb precipitation days = |Mar precipitation days = |Apr precipitation days = |May precipitation days = |Jun precipitation days = |Jul precipitation days = |Aug precipitation days = |Sep precipitation days = |Oct precipitation days = |Nov precipitation days = |Dec precipitation days = |Jan snow cm = |Feb snow cm = |Mar snow cm = |Apr snow cm = |May snow cm = |Jun snow cm = |Jul snow cm = |Aug snow cm = |Sep snow cm = |Oct snow cm = |Nov snow cm = |Dec snow cm = |year snow cm = |unit snow days = 1 cm |Jan snow days = |Feb snow days = |Mar snow days = |Apr snow days = |May snow days = |Jun snow days = |Jul snow days = |Aug snow days = |Sep snow days = |Oct snow days = |Nov snow days = |Dec snow days = |Jan humidity = 88.9 |Feb humidity = 86.5 |Mar humidity = 82.0 |Apr humidity = 76.1 |May humidity = 75.3 |Jun humidity = 78.0 |Jul humidity = 79.6 |Aug humidity = 80.8 |Sep humidity = 84.4 |Oct humidity = 87.3 |Nov humidity = 90.4 |Dec humidity = 90.5 |year humidity = 83.3 |Jan sun = 66.6 |Feb sun = 95.6 |Mar sun = 146.2 |Apr sun = 194.5 |May sun = 227.1 |Jun sun = 213.3 |Jul sun = 222.5 |Aug sun = 200.9 |Sep sun = 156.6 |Oct sun = 122.0 |Nov sun = 68.8 |Dec sun = 57.0 |year sun = 1771.1 |Jan percentsun = 25.9 |Feb percentsun = 34.1 |Mar percentsun = 39.4 |Apr percentsun = 46.6 |May percentsun = 46.6 |Jun percentsun = 42.5 |Jul percentsun = 44.1 |Aug percentsun = 44.0 |Sep percentsun = 41.0 |Oct percentsun = 36.9 |Nov percentsun = 26.0 |Dec percentsun = 23.7 |year percentsun =37.6 |source 1 = Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute{{cite web | url = https://weerstatistieken.nl/lelystad | title = Weerstatistieken Lelystad | publisher = Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute | access-date = June 24, 2022}}{{cite web | url = https://www.knmi.nl/klimaat-viewer/grafieken-tabellen/meteorologische-stations/stations-maand/stations-maand_1991-2020 |title=Klimaatviewer 1991-2020 | publisher = Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute | access-date = June 24, 2022}}}}

Landscape

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Lelystad-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg" caption="Dutch topographic map of Lelystad (city), March 2014"] ::

Lelystad is the largest municipality in the Netherlands in area, but a large part of that area is water: Markermeer and IJsselmeer. Another major area is the internationally famous nature park of Oostvaardersplassen, which arose naturally when the polder of South Flevoland was drained. Lelystad is also surrounded by a square of woodlands and parks and flat farmland. The importance of the landscape and sky is emphasized by several pieces of land art: engineers' work and works such as the Observatorium by Robert Morris (see below).

The artificial islands of Marker Wadden lie immediately to the northwest of Lelystad. Construction started in 2016, and the first islands have already become important wildlife sites, with many species of birds coming to the islands during the breeding season.

Tourism

Lelystad has several tourist attractions, including:

Lelystad hosts many one-day events like the Lelystad Airshow, the Water Festival, the National Old Timer Day, Lelystad Speedway, Architecture day and several sports events. On the Midland Circuit many motor, kart and stock car racing events and several autoclub meetings are held. On the coast there are several marinas.

Transport

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Lelystad_Railway_Bus_Station.jpg" caption="[[Lelystad Centrum railway station"] ::

Lelystad can be reached by air, water, and land.

Air

Lelystad Airport is the biggest general aviation airport in the Netherlands. It is owned wholly by Schiphol Group. Lelystad Airport has undergone major expansion, including the construction of a passenger terminal for commercial flights, as well as an extension of the runway. The original plan for this airport was to become the main gateway for passengers into the country, to alleviate some of the pressure from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. In turn, Schiphol would be able to focus on its role as international hub for lay-overs. Although the expansion of Lelystad Airport has been finished, the airport has not yet opened for passengers due to various political reasons. As of 2022, the government has decided to delay the opening of the terminals with at least two years, and even then the opening will not be guaranteed.

Water

Lelystad has a small inland port, several marinas, and a canal system which also functions to aid in managing the water levels in the rest of the polder. The canal system connects to the Markermeer with a lock to the southwest of Lelystad, and connects the city and its industrial areas to all other towns and their respective industrial areas in the polder.

Rail

the Weesp–Lelystad railway (Flevolijn) extends south from Lelystad Centrum railway station and connects the city with Almere, and to the Randstad region beyond. The Lelystad–Zwolle railway (Hanzelijn) extends north from Lelystad and connects it with Dronten, Kampen and Zwolle.

Motorway

The A6 motorway runs along Lelystad on the eastern side of the city. There are three on-ramps connecting this motorway to Lelystad, allowing traffic to travel northbound to Emmeloord and the province of Friesland, or southbound to Almere and the Randstad region.

Provincial roads

The N302 provincial road connects Lelystad to the south-east with Harderwijk and the province of Gelderland beyond. The N307 connects Lelystad across the Houtribdijk to Enkhuizen and the province of North Holland beyond, and to Dronten and beyond that to Kampen in the province of Overijssel. The N309 connects Lelystad to Dronten and beyond that to Elburg in the province of Gelderland.

Shield and flag

The honeycomb grid in the arms of Lelystad represents the dykes, built with six-edged concrete or basalt blocks. The colour gold indicates the high costs of the project of making the polder. The centre shield is the arms of engineer Cornelis Lely. The sealions reflect the history of the land.

In the flag, the fleur-de-lis (lily) again takes a central point, referring to the name Lely. The yellow background reflects the precious land, and the blue lines the dykes and waterways. The flag of the province is similarly adorned with the fleur-de-lis to commemorate Lely.

Notable residents

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/BuenodeMesquita.jpg" caption="Bueno de Mesquita"] ::

Sport

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/DaanBrandenburg.jpg" caption="Daan Brandenburg, 2009"] ::

Twin city

Lelystad maintains international relations with the Suriname twin city of Lelydorp.

References

References

  1. tags -->. dataref
  2. {{Dutch municipality population. dataref
  3. (2023-06-01). "Gemeente Lelystad in cijfers en grafieken (update 2023!)".
  4. (2022-12-27). "Ranglijst: autochtoon en migratieachtergrond van de inwoners per wijk in de gemeente Lelystad (update 2023!)".
  5. (2022-06-23). "Kabinet stelt besluit opening Lelystad Airport met twee jaar uit". [[Algemeen Dagblad]].
  6. [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0119215/ IMDb Database] retrieved 8 June 2019
  7. [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1488114/ IMDb Database] retrieved 8 June 2019
  8. [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7826463/ IMDb Database] retrieved 8 June 2019

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

lelystadcities-in-the-netherlandsmunicipalities-of-flevolandpopulated-places-in-flevolandpopulated-places-established-in-1967provincial-capitals-of-the-netherlands1967-establishments-in-the-netherlands