His Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen Máxima will visit the municipalities of Lelystad, Almere, and Zeewolde in the southern part of the province of Flevoland on Tuesday, September 9. The visit focuses on a sustainable and livable future for a growing region, with room for high-quality employment and facilities.
Over eighty years ago, Flevoland was created as an ambitious hydraulic engineering project reclaimed from the Zuiderzee. The region builds on its pioneering spirit and wants to demonstrate what is possible when innovation, collaboration, and courage come together. Flevoland aims to develop housing, nature, recreation, and education in harmony with livability and balance. During the visit, attention will also be given to the challenges of a rapidly growing region, social dilemmas, and the search for a balance between space and innovation.
The Royal Couple will be accompanied by Mr. Arjen Gerritsen, the Kings Commissioner in the province of Flevoland.
Lelystad: cultural activities, National Park Nieuw Land
The visit begins in Lelystad at the cultural center Kubus. In the theater hall, the Royal Couple will attend a rehearsal of a theater production performed by clients of a care organization. By performing on stage and collaborating on a production, the participants develop more self-confidence and expand their network. The Royal Couple will engage in discussions with the performers and the facilitators about the significance of working together on a theater piece, the skills they have developed, and performing the production in a real theater.
Outside, the King and Queen Máxima will visit the language festival The Cube. Young people learn here in various workshops about the importance of language and the art of storytelling.
The Royal Couple will then visit National Park Nieuw Land and receive explanations from rangers about nature management, the flora and fauna in the area, and research into the ecological dynamics of the park. There will also be discussions about the balance between recreation and nature. National Park Nieuw Land covers 29,000 hectares and consists of three-quarters water. The nature reserves provide space for new ecosystems and are home to an ever-growing number of different species of animals, flowers, and plants.
Almere: social cohesion, housing, education
The visit to the municipality of Almere begins at community center De Ruimte, where residents share their experiences about living, working, and life in a developing neighborhood. Subsequently, the Royal Couple will view the tiny houses next to the community center, where residents share their experiences in realizing these homes.
Next, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will visit MBO College Poort, where students will explain the courses they are taking and the availability of internships and jobs in their region. Representatives from education and the business community in Almere will engage in discussions with the Royal Couple about the further economic and social development of the region. The need for education and employment plays a role in the further development of Almere as a high-tech innovation hub.
Zeewolde: organic farming, entrepreneurship
At De Beleving, a greenhouse in the outskirts of Zeewolde, agricultural entrepreneurs will discuss the opportunities and challenges of farming in the polder. They will talk about their search for sustainable innovations and the increasing demand for space. The goal is to farm more efficiently organically by collaborating and pooling knowledge of crops and markets. No pesticides have ever been used on the agricultural land surrounding De Beleving, the Oergronden.
Finally, the Royal Couple will visit the harbor of Zeewolde and engage in discussions at a new hospitality venue with representatives from the province, the municipalities visited, and their partners.
RVD, nr. 205