Flevoland holiday home: Be surprised by sweeping reed beds and the unique history of the Zuiderzee!

Flevoland is a province worth getting to know—and chances are you’ll say the same after a holiday here! The largest land-reclamation project in the Netherlands has become a cradle of remarkable nature experiments, art and—yes—historic heritage. Discover the bird paradise of the Marker Wadden, hike through the wilderness of the Oostvaardersplassen, or visit a cathedral planted with trees. The former islands of Urk and Schokland are historical ‘enclaves’ that take you back in time. All in all, plenty of reasons to book a holiday home in Flevoland!

Experience the Oostvaardersplassen from your Flevoland holiday home

You might not expect cultivated nature to be this beautiful. The Oostvaardersplassen near Almere is a vast, marshy nature reserve where you can spot a wide range of birds, such as spoonbills, cormorants and herons. Grazers like Konik horses and red deer have been introduced, turning the area into a striking wilderness where they fully belong to the landscape. Wide grasslands alternate with reed-fringed lakes. Explore the area via several routes—the Dodaarspad is the longest, following a tidal channel and often bringing you face to face with the white horses. You can also consider a safari tour by buggy.

Plan a visit to Batavialand Museum and the Aviodrome Aviation Museum

Batavialand, Flevoland’s showpiece museum, takes you back to the era when Holland flourished as a trading nation. The VOC ship is an impressive replica that lets you feel the creaking timber and smell the tar. Its design is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, built to carry precious cargo such as gold and jewels. You can also see cannons that originally stood below deck. More into aviation? Visit the Aviodrome Aviation Museum. Beyond iconic aircraft—like the KLM Boeing 747—you can step into a flight simulator and get a feel for being a pilot.

Urk: Flevoland’s picturesque outlier

Although Flevoland was reclaimed in the second half of the last century, some places testify to a much older history. Urk is an age-old village in the Noordoostpolder that existed long before the polders were created—it used to be an island. Today, it’s a well-preserved fishing village with a lighthouse, an old church and a picturesque harbour.

Tip: Visit the Old Town Hall and dive to the bottom of the Zuiderzee with a VR headset to admire a sunken shipwreck in 3D.

Intriguing history and World Heritage at Schokland

Another former island absorbed into the Noordoostpolder is Schokland. It’s even a UNESCO World Heritage Site because excavations show the area has been inhabited for thousands of years. In the centuries before Christ, people lived here on dry land and farmed. In the late Middle Ages, Schokland was still a peninsula, but the advancing sea gradually ate away the land. The permanent exhibition shows prehistoric finds, including human footprints thousands of years old, and a minerals display of rocks deposited here during the Ice Age.

Tip: Join a guided tour for deeper insights and the many fascinating stories—Schokland is packed with history.

Discover the Marker Wadden from your Flevoland holiday home

In the middle of the Markermeer lies an artificial archipelago, ringed and interconnected by dikes. This newly created haven is paradise for migratory and breeding birds, which you can spot from several hides. Fish and aquatic plants also thrive here, creating a unique wilderness in the lake. While the islands are protected, you can walk on the largest one. Take the ferry from Lelystad and explore the marshy nature along a coastal loop or follow the Vogelvluchtpad (Bird’s-eye Path). The routes are approximately 7 and 3 kilometres long.

Make a side trip to Enkhuizen

Technically in North Holland, Enkhuizen is still just a short hop away via the dike across the Markermeer. At the renowned Zuiderzee Museum you’ll learn even more about life around the inland sea through the ages. What did the Golden Age bring, and what changed after the Afsluitdijk was built? Find the answers in the indoor museum, or soak up the atmosphere of centuries past in the open-air museum. Reconstructed homes, little bridges and a church form a complete village setting. The same goes for the photogenic historic centre—grab a seat by the drawbridge, take a canal tour and wander through Van Loosenpark, a leafy city park dotted with old villas.

Cycle past modern art

Flevoland’s sleek landscape may seem plain at first sight, but with a little affinity for art there’s lots to discover. Not small roadside sculptures, but monumental works: a 26-metre-tall crouching man, or a “green cathedral” designed by planting rows of poplars. You’ll also sense a touch of history on your ride; since Flevoland’s reclamation, countless shipwrecks have been found. You won’t see the remains themselves, but you will find markers indicating the discovery sites.

Rent a holiday home in Flevoland

Anyone holidaying in Flevoland soon discovers the province offers more than endless fields. Beyond the Aviodrome and the Batavia ship, you’ll find layer upon layer of history—from Ice Age minerals to the earliest inhabitants of Schokland. Want to add top-tier family fun to your stay? Plan a day at Walibi Holland from your holiday home in Flevoland!