Almere appeared on the Dutch map rather rapidly and began to grow at an even more impressive pace. The area got a “municipality” status about 35 years ago, but today, the city has 6 districts and over 200 thousand residents. Lack of space in the northern Randstad and the need for high-quality alternative locations made Almere a “go-to” place. It’s growth can be attributed to the rapid broadening and “overspill” of Amsterdam. Thanks to its geographical location, smart city planning and a clear strategy of growth, Almere was able to stretch out and provide a comfortable urban space to both residents and businesses. While more and more functions will need to be relocated from overcrowded Randstad, the city of Almere will face a serious inflow of residents, companies and infrastructure like road and rail junctions, airports, etc. To maintain a healthy urban infrastructure the city is growing in accordance with certain principles. Almere principles are there to guarantee a sustainable future for the growth of the city in the coming decades. Consequently, these principles play the main role in the inspiration and guidance for the ones who are involved in the future development of the city.
