The Netherlands: Floriade Expo 2022 - A once every 10 years International Horticultural Exhibition = Green solutions to living.

Once every 10 years the gates open to the International Horticultural Exhibition Floriade. On the 14th of April 2022 we open to show everyone a celebration of green solutions to living.

At the international horticulture exhibition Floriade Expo 2022 in Almere, you can enjoy greenery for six months from April 14 to October 9, 2022. Here you will discover green solutions from national and international innovators and brainiacs that make our cities more fun, more beautiful and more sustainable. You will also enjoy the scent and colors of flowers, plants, vegetables and fruit. Dive into the theme ‘Growing Green Cities’ and learn more about developments in the field of greenery, food, health and energy.

Read more at: Floriade Expo 2022 - English - Floriade

Circular Economics - Recycling: Netherlands in EU top three for recycling, says circular economy report

The Netherlands is in
Europe’s top three for recycling, according to the latest figures
published by the Dutch statistics office.

A report on the ‘circular economy in the Netherlands’ – looking at the
extent to which the country uses raw materials and recycles what it uses
– shows that it is apparently improving.

In 2018 the country consumed around 20% less in materials than in 2000 –
including goods that are used in production. On average, each resident
used 10,000 kilos of materials in 2018 – however another 21,500 kilos
per head were produced, intended for export.

Read more at DutchNews.nl:

Upcycle Center Almere

The Netherlands is in Europe’s top three for recycling, according to the latest figures published by the Dutch statistics office.

A report on the ‘circular economy in the Netherlands’ – looking at the extent to which the country uses raw materials and recycles what it uses – shows that it is apparently improving.

In 2018 the country consumed around 20% less in materials than in 2000 – including goods that are used in production. On average, each resident used 10,000 kilos of materials in 2018 – however another 21,500 kilos per head were produced, intended for export.

One example of the many cities in the Netherlands focusing on improving their recycling efforts is the modern city of Almere (population +/-200.000) in the new Dutch province of Flevoland, reclaimed from the Zuiderzee (South Sea), which in 1986 officially became the 12th Dutch Province. 

The city of Almere’s ambition is to become a city without waste. The city’s goal is that this year each citizen will only produce 50kg of household waste.

At the moment, around 75% of the household waste collected doesn’t belong in it, such as paper, plastic, glass or organic waste. By separating these raw materials, they can be reused, meaning fewer raw materials are needed to create new products.

The municipality is responsible for waste collection in the city,utilizing waste bins and (underground) containers. There are three recycling stations (recycling perrons) where you can discard your waste for free. And there is a free collection service for bulky waste that may otherwise be difficult to transport.

In addition, the municipality cleans up litter in the city and takes care of illegal dumping.

Almere-Digest

The Netherlands: Europe's number one biking country, becoming unsafe for bikers as higher speed mopeds and scooters are also allowed on bike paths

Scooters and Mopeds,
danger on Dutch bike-paths

There are more bicycles than residents in The Netherlands, and in all the big Dutch cities up to 70% of all journeys are made by bike.

To make cycling safer and even more inviting the Dutch have also built a vast network of cycle paths.

These are clearly marked, have smooth surfaces, separate signs and lights for those on two wheels, and wide enough to allow side-by-side cycling and overtaking.

In many cities the paths are completely segregated from motorised traffic. Sometimes, where space is scant and both must share, you can see signs showing an image of a cyclist with a car behind accompanied by the words 'Bike Street: Cars are guests'.

But there is a major danger now lurking on these beautiful bike paths, Molpeds and scooters,the Dutch call them "snor fietsers",  and these also include, what one biker called the "silent killers", electric scooters, who are also racing silently over these serene bike-paths, at high speeds.

Very often Scooters and Mopeds go at speeds of 50 km per hour or even more, specially when the engine is "souped up".

Also Pizza delivering persons on scooters have a reputation of always going too fast.  To make matters worse, because these scooters are on the bike-path, they also don't have to wear a helmet.

In December 2017 a majority of the Dutch parliament approved  a city of Amsterdam request to move mopeds and scooters from their municipality bike-paths to the open roads and highways. 

Unfortunately not many, if not any, of the cities in the Netherlands, have taken any similar action as Amsterdam so far.  It is also well known in the Netherlands, that local police is not very agressive, when it comes to writing out "tickets" against moped and scooter riders, who are going too fast on the bike-paths.

As one bike-rider in the city of Almere noted: how many more bikers will need to get serious accidents, before our Municipality takes any action?

EU-Digest 

The Netherlands: King's Day, King's Night widely celebrated without incident - by Zack Newmar

People across the Netherlands took to the streets Friday night and Saturday to celebrate King Willem-Alexander's birthday. By 4 p.m. on Saturday, only a handful of atypical arrests were announced byauthorities.

Only a handful of people were stopped in the biggest cities of the Netherlands, including just three in Amsterdam on King's Day, a police spokesperson told Nu.nl. Over a hundred incidents in the city overnight  required an ambulance to be dispatched, mostly to treat people under the influence of alcohol. No "significant incidents" were announced by
overnight and first shift police teams in Breda, Eindhoven, Groningen, Rotterdam, and The Hague.

In Almere, police detained or arrested about a dozen people overnight. Authorities declared the city center to be an area at risk ofviolence when two rival youth gangs announced intention to brawl there. Nine of the suspects were held on weapons-related charges, including teenagers as young as 15 allegedly armed with screwdrivers, according to  broadcaster NOS.

Read more: King's Day, King's Night widely celebrated without incident | NL Times

Brexit: Bye Bye Britain -The Netherlands here we come- More than 250 firms interested in Brexit move to The Netherlands

The Netherlands: Almere, -one of
 the most modern cities in Europe

Dutch officials are in contact with more than 250 companies about a possible post-Brexit move, the government said on Wednesday, after Sony revealed it would shift its base to the Netherlands.
 
The Dutch government will announce a final figure in February but “every new arrival of a business, big or small, is a success”, Michiel Bakhuizen, a spokesperson for the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, told AFP.

Japanese electronics giant Sony is following Panasonic in moving its European headquarters across the North Sea to the Netherlands ahead of Britain’s scheduled departure from the EU in March.

While Prime Minister Mark Rutte said during a recent visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he “doesn’t see Brexit as a business opportunity”, the Netherlands has still pushed hard to win post-Brexit investment.

Via the investment agency, the Dutch government is “in contact with more than 250 interested in an eventual move to the Netherlands because of Brexit”, Bakhuizen said. “The number of businesses we are in contact with for a possible arrival is growing. At the start of 2017 it was 80, at the start of 2018 150, and now it’s more than 250.

“This increase will continue and it’s not strange, because there is great uncertainty at the moment in Britain. And if there is one thing that’s bad for business, it’s uncertainty.”

The spokesperson said he would not comment on “individual” cases such as Sony, but added that the Netherlands welcomed any such decision. “In mid-February we will announce the number of companies that have left the UK for the Netherlands because of Brexit,” he said.

Asked whether Abe’s visit had helped with the Sony move, the spokesperson said that “it’s certain that these political and diplomatic moments help”.

However, Rutte warned in a press conference with Abe that any extra investments would be offset by the overall “negative impact” of Brexit, particularly if Britain crashes out without a deal with the EU.
Dutch officials said this week they are preparing for the “blue sea of uncertainty” that a no-deal Brexit would create.

Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday that “we have started early with our preparations but, of course, it has become more intensive because of a possible no-deal Brexit”.

There is a famous Dutch saying which goes as follows: "de een zijn dood, is de ander z'n brood". which in English would translate to :"their loss, your gain" - Yes indeed, if Brexit happens, the Netherlands could "laugh all the way to the bank". 

Read more at: More than 250 firms interested in Brexit move to The Netherlands

The Netherlands: Almere is fastest growing area of the Netherlands

 The relatively new city of Almere has been the fastest growing part of the Netherlands over the past 20 years in terms of its economy, jobs and population.

Almere, created on reclaimed land in the 1960s, is a planned city and got its first houses in 1976. It became an independent local authority area in 1984.

The new CBS figures show Almere’s economy grew 144% between 1996 and 2016, compared with average national growth of 50%. Its population has gone up by 75% and the number of jobs by 90% over the same period.

Of a  total population of close to 200.000 inhabitants 32% was not born in the Netherlands. This provides for a great cultural environment and a wide choice of exotic foods

Read more: Almere is fastest growing area of the Netherlands - DutchNews.nl

The Netherlands - Almere: NDIC clebrates its 10th.anniversary: "How Great Thou Art"

Pastors - van der Meijdens and the Sisks

This past Sunday, September 17th , was a festive occasion for the New Day International Church located at the Almere Filmwijk, as it celebrated it's 10th anniversary.

Jointly participating in this special event, organized by the NDIC Pastorial team of  John  and Joy Sisk, were also the founders of the NDIC church, Pastors Peter and Nancy van der Meijden.

Unfortunately, Pastors Melvin and Louise, who came after Pastors Peter and Nancy van der Meijden had left, and before Pastors John  and Joy Sisk.became the present pastors for NDIC, could not be there to join in the celebration,  as they were away on a new assignment.    

Pastor Peter "back home"

It was a great event, which included an introduction by Pastor Sisk of the van der Meijdens, an outline of the day's program, and a brief history of NDIC.

This was followed by a touching sermon of Peter van der Meijden, entitled  - "How Great Thou Art"  - highlighted by Joy Sisk singing the beautiful Christian song from which the title of the Sermon  was derived at the end of the sermon

New Day Cafe: an international culinary delight

Following the blessing of the congregation, concluding Pastor Peter van der Meijden's sermon, Pastor Sisk noted : "keeping up with the tradition of NDIC to not only feed the soul, but also the stomach of the congregation, you are now all invited to our delicious New Day cafe "Pot Luck Lunch", with food representing the many nationalities attending New Day International Church".

It was a blessed event of friendship, fellowship and a great opportunity for "the old timers" to reflect on the years gone by.

NDIC anniversary:A blessed event of friendship and fellowship

NDIC opened its doors in Almere at the beginning of September 2007,  all because of a vision its first Pastor Peter van der Meijden had to start an international church in Holland, while he and his American wife Nancy were living in the US

A vision which eventually led them back to the Netherlands

So when the couple returned to the
Netherlands and settled in Almere, one of Europe's most modern, functional and multi-cultural cities, "it was obvious", says Peter, "the vision God gave me in America was becoming a reality".

"Yes indeed", said Peter: "In Gods plan all things always fit together for the good".

Almere, situated east of Amsterdam, was created only about 40 years ago as part of a major Dutch land reclamation project, which eventually resulted in a new Dutch Province called Flevoland

This huge land reclamation project certainly has been a successful venture so far.  In those 40 years Almere has attracted over 200,000 residents and 15,600 businesses, with new residents moving in daily..

In God's plan all things always fit together for the good

Almere today is the largest city in the Province of Flevoland, and the 8th largest city in the Netherlands, closing in rapidly on Groningen, to the North of Almere., to overtake her ranking as number 7.

Paster Peter noted  "What made Almere particularly interesting for us to start an international English language church was the fact that  more than 27% of Almere's citizens come from non-western cultures, in addition to a large contingent of "Expats" , who work in and around Amsterdam, known as the industrial Randstad".

A megalopolis in the central-western Netherlands, consisting primarily of the four largest Dutch cities and their surrounding areas

"One of our primary goals has always been to be sensitive to multi-national cultures and provide a spiritual home for people from all around the globe living in this city and surrounding areas".

"Obviously we also have our doors wide open for Dutch folks who prefer to listen to sermons in English", said Pastor John Sisk.

Over the past years NDIC has become the Church home to many people from all over the world, with or without a previous church background.

As one father with two young children, who moved from Poland to Holland said "we like it here at NDIC because it feels like family, and we find the International environment to be very inspiring to exploring your faith, whereby God can be encountered in new and creative ways. It is very refreshing and stimulating."

Everyone is welcome to attend the Sunday meetings of NDIC, which start at 10.30 a.m. If you are a first time visitor please come a little earlier so you can be welcomed properly. NDIC is located at the Walt Disney Plantsoen 76/78, in the Almere Filmwijk Center, and faces a Vomar supermarket

The Netherlands-Almere: Can This City Predict The Fate Of The Dutch Elections?

Solar Island Almere

Founded in 1976, this city 30 kilometers from Amsterdam offers a glimpse into the future of the Netherlands. Leaving behind the tourist droves of the capital, a 20-minute ride on an Intercity train — equipped with WiFi — whisks you through windmills and farmland to reach Almere.

Lying 3.2 meters below sea level, the 7th largest city in the country has a population of almost 200,000 people. One in three locals hails from outside the European Union (EU). The local statistics office says Almere is home to 153 nationalities and 181 ethnicities.

Despite its diversity, Almere voted for the xenophobic right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV) for the last seven years. Headed by Geert Wilders, a controversial figure, the party is leading in national polls ahead of Wednesday’s election. PVV could even unseat the current government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The Dutch election is the first in a long line of crucial polls in Europe this year. It comes ahead of votes in France, Germany, and the Czech Republic.

In Almere, no house is further than 400 meters from a bus stop. Public transportation and bicycles have dedicated lanes on roads. The town square is an enormous open-air shopping mall with three-story buildings that make it reminiscent of a college campus. An atmosphere of order and tranquility prevails in residential neighborhoods — this is not a neglected area where far-right parties often thrive.

A third of Almere’s residents are aged younger than 25 years and only 9% of inhabitants are older than 65 years. Local economic trends match national ones — 2% GDP growth and an unemployment rate of 5.3%, much lower than the Eurozone average of 9.6%. After a day in the city, it’s difficult to find someone who openly admits to supporting the PVV.

Faiza, 50, has lived in the Netherlands for 20 years. She’s waiting for her number to be called in the city hall, a vast open space with comfortable couches and floor lamps that makes it seem like a furniture showroom. "They are ashamed to say so publicly but in private many residents support Wilders’ views," she says. "I don’t know what’s happening to Dutch society, it used to be that respecting rules and laws was sufficient for integration. It’s not like that anymore, especially for Muslims, and our religion is seen as a disease that must be kept at bay."

In recent years, there have been a few cases of radicalized Islamists in Almere but none managed to carry out terrorist attacks. This trend may have contributed to anti-Muslim sentiment in the city. The first point of Wilders’ policy manifesto promises to "de-Islamize" the Netherlands. This would involve shuttering mosques and Islamic schools and banning the Islamic veil and sales of the Koran.

Few people in the country believe the Netherlands will split from the EU.

The upcoming election has also focused on the question of immigration. Denk, which means "think" in Dutch, is a new pro-immigrant party. Founded by Turkish immigrants, the party may gain representation in parliament for the first time.

There are 28 parties contesting the election but only half of them are likely to get enough votes to win seats. Even if Wilders gets the most votes, it will be difficult for the PVV to form a coalition in a country with an ultra-proportional electoral system. It will take at least three months for any winner to put together a credible coalition.

"Wilders definitely won’t be in the coalition government that emerges," says Meindert Fennema, a political scientist at the University of Amsterdam. "No one wants to ally with the PVV and even he has no intention of becoming Prime Minister."

The logic goes that it would be too politically risky for Wilders to govern; it suits him better to stay in the opposition.

This is exactly what has happened to the PVV in its stronghold of Almere. Despite being the single largest party to win there, it has been kept out of local government by a coalition of opposing parties. 

Instead, the city government is controlled by the progressive liberal D66 party. Franc Weerwind, the mayor, is the son of immigrants from Suriname. In 2015, he also became the first person of color to become a mayor in the Netherlands.

Read more: Can This City Predict The Fate Of The Dutch Elections? - Worldcrunch

Almere World Trade Center: Save the date: 16 januari 2017

World Trade Center Almere

The World Trade Center and its members invite potential members and interested individuals to participate in a New Years meeting on Januari 16th. to discuss a variety of issues and to welcome in the New Year.

A new year which presents a lot of challenges. The elction of Donald Trump, elctions in the Netherlands, Germany and France. We expect to see you on Januari 16.

For additional information click here

Almere: NDIC wants your Christmas holidays to become festive "Holy Days"

NDJC right in the center of the Almere Filmwijk

When Sunday arrives in Almere, the Netherlands, one of Europe's most modern, functional and multi-cultural cities, its inhabitants can make a variety of choices,varying from sleeping in, sports, reading - or - attending a Church service and strengthening their relationship with the Creator through the Gospel.

Yes indeed, there is a lot the citizens of Almere can be grateful for.

Grateful that they not only live in a free and democratic Holland, but also that they are blessed to live in a unique modern European city.

Almere: 200.000 inhabitants in 40 years

Almere, situated east of Amsterdam, was created only 40 years ago as part of a huge Dutch Government land-reclamation project, which  eventually also resulted in the birth of a new Dutch Province, called Flevoland.

This project has been a hugely successful venture.  In the past 40 years Almere attracted over 200,000 residents, 14,800 businesses and more are moving in every day.

Almere is now the Netherland`s 7th largest city. and expected to grow to more than 350.000 inhabitants by 2022.

NDIC: a truly International Church with families from 25 Nations

What also makes Almere unique is that 38 % of the population originally came from somewhere else in the world.

Consequently, this also created an urgent demand for an International English language Church, which would be sensitive to the prevailing culture and provide a spiritual home for people from all over the world.

Not only for those living in Almere and the surrounding area, but also for those native Dutch folks, who prefer to worship in English.

This is how and why NDIC was born

The Church opened its doors at the beginning of September 2007 and has steadily grown in the past 9 years  Currently, individuals and families from some 25 nations are usually in attendance each Sunday.

John, Joy and their daughter Sarah Sisk

John and Joy Sisk became pastors at New Day International Church in June of 2016, following the retirement of previous pastors, Melvin and Louise Ho.

For 30 years, the Sisks have served in ministry with one goal: To bring people into a personal relationship with God.

They first served as pastors in the United States for 12 years, and now for 18 years as missionaries abroad.

In the US, they began as children’s and youth pastors, and then became senior pastors.

As missionaries, they have trained pastors and worship leaders in Cambodia, planted and pastored an international church in Taiwan, and directed a Bible college in Micronesia, while interim pastoring an international church.

This coming Christmas season NDIC will hold holiday services on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, at their regular time Church service, starting time of 10:30 AM on Sunday2 and everyone is welcome.
   
Christmas Day service program will culminate with a Birthday Cake for Jesus. New Year’s Day is also the regular monthly “Family Sunday”, where parents and children enjoy the entire service together, including a puppet show before the message, and communion at the conclusion of the service.

John and Joy Sisk hope that Your holidays this year can become “Holy Days” at NDIC.

NDIC is located at the Walt Disney Plantsoen 76/78, in the Almere Filmwijk Center, and faces a Vomar supermarket. For additional information check out the NDIC website.

© Almere-Digest

The Netherlands-Almere: Sun Island

Almere Zoneiland (Sun Island) is located in the Noorderplassen-West district in Almere and it is the first project in the Netherlands, where houses in a residential area is heated by a single solar energy system collectively.

The project is financially supported by the EU andmimplemented in a cooperation between the Dutch energy company Nuon, Almere Municipality and local citizens.

Read more: Almere: Sun Island - Danish Architecture Centre

The Netherlands - Almere, one of Europe's newest and most modern Cities celebrates it's 40th anniversary

Almere - Europe most modern city celebrates its 40th anniversary

From the moment of its establishment in 1976, Almere has been one of the fastest growing cities in Europe.

It was initially developed as a suburban area in the east of Amsterdam, however, it has grown into the status of being Holland’s most exemplary new town.

In just 40 years it has attracted over 200,000 residents and approximately 17,000 businesses.

Almere is the largest city in the province of Flevoland and now also the seventh largest city in the Netherlands.

This November Almere celebrates it's 40th anniversary.

Almere-Digest congratulates the Municipality and Citizen's of Almere!

Almere-Digest

Suriname: Investigators find €2 million hidden in Suriname-bound ambulance - by Janene Pieters

A 44-year-old man from Almere was arrested by the Tax Authorities’ investigative department FIOD after an amount of 2 million euros was discovered in an ambulance he wanted to ship to Suriname, Metro reports. He is suspected of money laundering.

According to the newspaper, the man wanted to ship the ambulance and a new Jaguar from Vlissingen to Suriname. But a Customs sniffer dog found the money in time.

The money, all 500 euro notes, was hidden in two plastic bags in the ambulance’s roof. The money, ambulance and Jaguar were all confiscated. The authorities also searched the suspect’s home and storage unit.

The car company that arranged the transportation of the ambulance and Jaguar is also under investigation. The company offers expensive cars for sale on its website, but does not report any revenue to the Tax Authorities. The authorities suspect the company launders criminal money by exporting expensive cars and money to Suriname.


Read more: Investigators find €2 million hidden in Suriname-bound ambulance - NL Time

The Netherlands: Almere, Tvesha Chauhan from India, becomes it's 200.000 inhabitant

Almere, the Netherlands newest and Europe's most modern city, celebrated the arrival of it's 200.000 new inhabitant, Tvesha Chauhan from India, who was registered this past Monday, November the third.

She was officially welcomed to the city by Franc Weerwin, the Mayor of Almere, who is a Dutch Citizen from Suriname descent.

Almere's first citizens arrived in the city only back in 1976, after the area was reclaimed from the Zuider-Sea and became part of a new Dutch Province, completely reclaimed from the sea on June 27, 1985 , "baptized" Flevoland, the 12th Dutch Province.

On January 1, 1986. Dutch Parliament passed an act whereby the Province of Flevoland was created, and the rest is history.

Almere heeft 200.000 inwoners|Binnenland| Telegraaf.nl

Almere, de jongste stad van Nederland, heeft nu 200.000 inwoners. De grens werd symbolisch gepasseerd door de tienjarige Tvesha Chauhan uit India, die met haar…

telegraaf.nl

The Netherlands: City of Almere Parking Fines considered "Municipality Legalized Robbery" by vistors and citizens

Almere: a parking fine can cost you a fortun

Parking fines, you know they exist, but how high they are usually is a total mystery until you get a fine.

Of course rules are rules, but they should be proportional. Not a Municipality legalized robbery.

Visiting the city of Almere on Sunday, July 31, to do some errands, we parked the car at 12.55 in a downtown Almere open air car parking called "Landdroesdreef" and paid  € 4.10 (US $ 4.60) to park for approximately one and a half hour worth of parking time until 2.27 pm..

Unfortunately, the errands in downtown Almere took slightly more time than expected and when we arrived at the parking lot it was 2.42 pm, only some 15 minutes too late and we found a fine on the windshield of the car for € 62.50 (approximately $70 US Dollars).

The parking "police", who had given the fine were still standing on the parking lot and we immediately went to them to apologize for the 15 minute delay, but they were not willing to forgive the fine, or even reduce it. Worse of all, they were also unable to explain why a fine for 15 minutes of overtime in a parking lot was € 62.50.

By whatever standards, these kind of a parking fines are ridiculous, specially in smaller cities like Almere, or on a Sunday, when in most cities around the world, there are either reduced parking rates or no parking fees at all.

The Municipality of Almere and the business community would do good to look into this if they want to make Almere consumer friendly and attract more visitors and tourists to the city..

Almere-Digest

The Netherlands - Almere: Some bus services temporarily interupted after struck by stones from vandals - by RM

Mr. Franc Weerwind, Mayor of Almere: "we don't tolerate vandalism"

Almere Police have arrested two people who were apparently involved in acts of vandalism on some of Almere/s public transport bus routes.

At a recent press conference the Mayor of Almere, Mr. Weerwind, noted that these groups of vandals, mainly teenagers and young adults, appear to be from North-African (Moroccan) descent, and are known to the police

The Mayor also stated there will  additional security controls on the Almere buses and camera surveillance at bus stops. "We don't tolerate this kind of behavior in Almere and we will make sure to remove all anonymity from these vandals by exposing them", said Mr. Weerwind

He also appealed to the parents, relatives and friends of the vandals to challenge them in changing their unacceptable behavior.

The Almere City Council will debate the issue today, June 16, 2016,  at the request of the VVD political fraction in the Council.


Almere-Digest

The Netherlands: Almere, Europe's most "avant-garde" multi-cultural city celebrating it's 40th birthday

From the moment of its establishment in 1976, Almere has been one of the fastest growing cities in Europe.

Initially developed as a suburban area east of Amsterdam, it has become one of Europe's most impressive new modern multi-cultural cities.

 During the past 36 years, it has also become the home of some 200,000 residents and 18.000 businesses.

Almere is the largest city in the Province of Flevoland and now also the seventh largest city in the Netherlands.

A Facebook page  (unfortunately in Dutch only) is commemorating this event. the whole year, until the exact date (November 30)  when  Almere's first settlers arrived, many years ago.

The Facebook page also  illustrates many of the important facts and events that took place during the 40 years since Almere became one of the fastest growing and most modern multi-cultural European cities.

Over the years, as the city developed  it also quickly got the reputation of being one of Europe's, architecturally, most "avant-garde cities".

Obviously this made Almere also a very attractive city for architecture students to visit.

If Dutch is not your maternal language, there are also numerous other websites containing information about Almere - its corporate sector, its sustainability, the facilities and opportunities that residents, businesses and institutions alike have by being established in Almere.

The following sites might be a good place to start looking:  Chamber of Commerce,  World Trade Center Almere, VVV Almere, The City of Almere, Almere Sun Island, Wikipedia Almere, Floriade 2022 - Growing Green Cities, Almere-Digest,

Mayor, Mr. Franc Weerwind

A friendly welcoming city, from its Mayor, Mr. Franc Weerwind, to all the city's residents.

It all seems to be happening in Almere.!

Almere-Digest 

Soccer: The Netherlands: Dutch socer team Almere City create brilliant response to Real Madrid's El Clasico photo

Real Madrid - los Blancos

After defeating Barcelona last week, Los Blancos posed for a photo – with Cristiano Ronaldo particularly noticeable on the outskirts.

Now Almere City, a Dutch second division team have created a brilliant response to Real Madrid’s El Clasico dressing room photo. with hilarious consequences

Almere City -"Copy Cats"

Second choice goalkeeper Roy Pistoor has taken the place of Ronaldo, and the 27-year-old doesn’t look quite as in shape as the Portuguese superstar.

Now that they’ve nailed Madrid’s antics off the pitch, Almere are sure to want to copy their success on the field.

Almere-Digest

The Netherlands - start-up companies: Dutch start-up "Internet of Things" brings the future closer

Imagine a house in which the plants alert you when they need watering or your cat is automatically fed.

Then take it wider, across your neighborhood and your city. The Internet of Things is a network of physical objects, or things, which have been equipped with software, sensors and network connectivity. This enables them to collect and exchange data and improve the way they work, bringing greater efficiency and economic benefits.

Wired magazine says "this Dutch invention "The Internet of Things" revolves around increased machine-to-machine communication; it’s built on cloud computing and networks of data-gathering sensors; it’s mobile, virtual, and instantaneous connection; and they say it’s going to make everything in our lives from streetlights to seaports “smart.”

A sensor is not a machine. It doesn’t do anything in the same sense that a machine does. It measures, it evaluates; in short, it gathers data. The Internet of Things really comes together with the connection of sensors and machines. That is to say, the real value that the Internet of Things creates is at the intersection of gathering data and leveraging it. All the information gathered by all the sensors in the world isn’t worth very much if there isn’t an infrastructure in place to analyze it in real time."

Cloud-based applications are the key to using leveraged data. The Internet of Things doesn’t function without cloud-based applications to interpret and transmit the data coming from all these sensors. The cloud is what enables the apps to go to work for you anytime, anywhere."
 
The idea behind the Internet of Things (IoT) first came about in the 1990s when the board of Dutch electronics giant Philips, together with American innovators, coined the term ‘Ambient Intelligence’. Ambient Intelligence refers to electronic environments equipped with devices that are sensitive to the presence of people, can sense change and relay information to a base – independent of human control.

The theory went that the instruments themselves, working in chorus, would support a more convenient, efficient, life-enhancing world for humans; and become reality between 2010 and 2020.

Last year Wieke Giezeman, a serial start-up entrepreneur, launched The Things Network. The aim: to set up an IoT communication network throughout Amsterdam. He laid out his plans for citywide coverage, set up by and for users, with LoRa Wan (Long Wave Radio) gateway boxes which the company would produce themselves at low cost. Much to his astonishment it was fully crowdfunded and operational within six weeks.

‘We did it because we can. We believe in an open and free internet,’ Giezeman said. ‘The hardware is cheap enough. With this anyone can set themselves up. You don’t even need coding skills.’

LoRa Wan is the same kind of tech that telecoms giants such as KPN and Vodafone are hoping to exploit in order to profit from the need for a reliable IoT network. ‘If we leave this task up to big telcos, a subscription model will be enforced and we will exclude 99% of the cool use cases,’ says Giezeman. ‘Instead, let’s make it a publicly owned and free network so businesses and use cases will flourish on top of it.’

‘In future everything will be connected. A lot of data will be collected to make our lives better. It will allow service providers, of all sorts, to make their services cheaper and better for us, the consumers.’

Since the launch the idea has rapidly gone global. Over 20 cities (from Rotterdam, Eindhoven and Almere to Sao Paulo and Montevideo) are now taking part, 2,000 people are actively seeking to help, and 200 are specifically looking to set up their own local network. In November,

The Things Network launched a second Kickstarter campaign to try and support global roll out.The main aim is to have a network in every major city by the end of 2016. From then on it will need to grow via local communities. They succeeded in raising €295,000, more than €100,000 over their target.

IoT devices don’t need the constant internet access of your laptop. However, they do need consistent coverage, to be reliable in varied environments, safe from hacking and have long battery life in order to transfer data as and when they need to. ‘LoRa Wan has a range of up to 10 kilometres, low bandwidth and the battery use is very low.

This is perfect for machine-to-machine communication,’ Giezeman explains. By producing their own hardware, he and his team have worked hard to make options for different budgets: starting with The Things Gateway, a €200 version, with a range of five kilometres, allowing citizen users to contribute to the network from their own home.

Users have been quick to start using the network, designing tools that can link to it. As an Amsterdam-born idea it’s not surprising that these uses include intelligent sensors that alert you if your boat begins to take on rain water past a safe level for staying afloat. Or a device that locates your bike among the hoards of others parked outside the city’s main railway station.

The city’s port authority and successful sharing startup Peerby have also joined the enthusiastic user crowd. Outside cities, IoT trackers are already being used to monitor rhinos in the wild. In the home, uses could include remote thermostat, cctv or baby monitor control. Some of these are essentially familiar and perhaps don’t seem like such a breakthrough change from apps.

However, Giezeman and IoT innovators like him are anticipating the next stage of development being where the IoT will really take flight. ‘When I talk to people outside tech, in operations for instance, within ten minutes almost everyone can think of new uses. You just need to think of how far digital tech has come in the last thirty years and try and project forward.’ -  (from Dutch News NL and Wired Magazine reports)

Almere-Digest

The Netherlands: Police Force City of Almere Asleep When It Comes To Biking Traffic Violations

The city of Almere, one of the Netherlands most modern architecturally designed cities in the Netherlands,  and probably also of Europe, has a police force which  hardly ever patrolls the numerous bike paths in and around this beautiful modern city.

One biker complained that when night falls probably half of the bikers, and mopeds, know as bromfiets in the Netherlands,  have no lights and become a hazard and often also cause accidents for both bikers and pedestrians, on or crossing these bike paths. 

"Worst of all, there is very little action taken by the police in Almere when it comes to these offenses by bikers. I have hardly ever seen any policemen on these bike paths checking, or handing out tickets to bikers,who don't have a light, or mopeds driving at high speeds. If they did, the city of Almere could be making a lot of money", she said.

Almere-Digest