Almere

Almere is the second largest city in the Amsterdam metropolitan area. Almere is only 45 years old. It is situated in the province of Flevoland and is built on reclaimed land from the sea. Almere lies 2-5 m below sea level. This demonstrates its innovative character as a city. With an area of 248.77 km2 and a multicultural population of 215.000 inhabitants, it is also the fastest growing city in Netherlands.

Almere has a unique position right in the middle between the high-producing hinterland and the urban region of Amsterdam. This can be considered as an opportunity if we take into account the objective of Almere of encouraging short food chain productions. One of the most interesting recent projects of the city is the creation of Flevo Campus: a scientific hotspot for innovations in terms of food and urbanization issues for the future. The main idea is to rethink the food system, promoting local fresh food and making it more accessible in the city.

Shortening the food chains is one of the objectives of the city food strategy for 2021-2025 together with creating a new sustainable food economy and improving healthy food choices through education and communication.

In this context, the city is involved in the Urbact project, which is for Almere an opportunity to learn how to link the food policy with the urban planning, how to create viable financial business models for the local food economy, together with the engagement of consumers and the fight against obesity and a general unhealthy food environment.

Together with the cities of Stara Zagora and Vilanova de Gaia, lead by Milan in the NextAgri network, Almere aims to exchange best practices and to improve its own food policy in the long term.