The opening of a museum house, an Almere quiz, young dancers who together are 50 years old, a large Almere choir singing the Almerelied with the audience, and the official opening ceremony by the mayor and the childrens mayor. These are the main ingredients of the start of the anniversary year Almere 50 Years on Saturday, November 29 during the atmospheric Winterfair in Almere Haven.
Almere, the youngest city in the Netherlands, is celebrating its 50th anniversary for a year. And it starts on Saturday, November 29 in Almere Haven, almost fifty years after the first eight wooden houses were placed here and with this ‘Bivak’ the foundation was laid for the city Almere is today.
Museum House as a Tangible Reminder of the Pioneer Era
The festivities begin in the morning with the official opening of the museum house Huis van Haven by Mayor Hein van der Loo. The museum house at Schoolwerf 68 (made available for a year by housing corporation De Alliantie) is furnished like a typical terraced house in the early years of Almere. Simple, practical, and full of stories from the first residents. The house can be visited throughout the anniversary year.
‘With the museum house, we give our city a tangible reminder of its pioneering days. A place where residents and visitors can experience what it was like to live in the early seventies in Almere,’ says initiator Ans van Berkum of Huis van Haven.
Opening Moment with Singing of the Almerelied
After the opening of the museum house, musically accompanied by the city ensemble Black Pencil, the group of guests proceeds via a heritage walking route to the Market in Almere Haven. There at 1 pm the official opening moment begins, organized by the entrepreneurs collective BIZ Almere Haven, the municipality of Almere, and Almere City Marketing. All this takes place in the setting of the Winterfair which is held there all weekend and also celebrates 50 years of Almere.
The festive program, presented by Almere storyteller Joost Buitenweg, is opened by six young dancers from Dansstudio Yvette, who together are fifty years old. There is also an Almere quiz where the audience can test their knowledge of Almeres history. The highlight will be the singing of the Almerelied ‘City of Freedom.’ Under the direction of conductor Daan Welle, 275 Almere choir members and 40 musicians start the song, after which the audience is invited to sing along with the final choruses. During the singing of the song, the mayor together with childrens mayor Maylee performs the official opening ceremony of the anniversary year.
‘It promises to be a wonderful kickoff to our anniversary year,’ says Mayor Hein van der Loo. ‘I hope to welcome many Almere residents on November 29.’
A Year Full of Activities For and By the City
With the opening festivities, a year full of events, exhibitions, and activities for and by the city begins. For example, on the evening of Saturday, November 29, there is already an 80’s/90’s party in theater café Corrosia for Almere ‘nightlife pioneers’ and from December 1 the exhibition The First Keys of Almere, from Bivak to Schoolwerf (1975-1976) can be seen in the Almere City Archive.
Many of the anniversary activities are initiatives from within the city. The municipality has made 500,000 euros available in a Fund Almere 50 to financially support ideas from residents and organizations. The enthusiasm was overwhelming. Nearly 200 applications were received, which are now being assessed by an independent anniversary committee.
Read soon more information about the anniversary activities on the website almereviert50.nl.
