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The rounded glass front of Almere city hall on Stadhuisplein, with the words 'Almere voor iedereen' across the windows and flags flying in front

Netherlands

Almere

Photo: Macabe5387, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Almere is preparing the first 7,500 homes of its new Pampus district and 1,250 student homes at Campus Almere Centrum, while introducing a tax on long-empty homes and replacing about 180 bus shelters on its rapid-bus network.

Updated · Checked against official sources

  • Population

    233,742

    end of August 2026

  • Mayor

    Hein van der Loo

  • EU programmes

    4

Latest

  1. Culture ·

    Almere 2027 budget adds money for safety and culture, sets up €36m reserve

    Almere's executive has presented its 2027 programme budget, adding a recurring €1.8 million for safety and €2 million for culture from 2027, cutting other budgets, and proposing a new reserve filled with an expected €36 million from land sales.

    Facts and source
    • From 2027 the city will spend an extra €1.8 million a year on safety and €2 million a year on culture.
    • These investments are offset by cuts to economy, diversity and inclusion, and climate funding.
    • The executive proposes placing an expected €36 million from land sales in a new reserve for future investment in public facilities, urban development and municipal property.

    Source: Almere city hall, “Begroting 2027: Almere bouwt verder aan een sterke stad met gezonde financiën”

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  2. Regeneration and housing ·

    Almere reserves land at Esplanade for around 1,250 student homes

    Almere, Stichting DUWO and Woningstichting GoedeStede have signed an agreement reserving land at Campus Almere Centrum on the Esplanade for about 1,250 student homes, with construction of a first phase of around 600 homes planned for late 2028.

    Facts and source
    • The city, Stichting DUWO and Woningstichting GoedeStede signed an agreement reserving land on the Esplanade for about 1,250 student homes.
    • Construction of the first phase, with around 600 homes, is planned to start at the end of 2028.
    • Windesheim University of Applied Sciences has already started building its new building on the site, and a new car park is also planned.

    Source: Almere city hall, “Volgende stap gezet in de ontwikkeling van Campus Almere Centrum”

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  3. Regeneration and housing ·

    Almere introduces a vacancy tax on homes left empty for a year

    Almere will levy a vacancy tax from 2027 on owners of homes empty for one year or longer on 1 January 2027, starting at €2,000 per year and rising from 2028; about 400 homes were vacant at the start of 2026.

    Facts and source
    • The tax applies to owners of homes that have been vacant for one year or longer on 1 January 2027.
    • The tax starts in 2027 at €2,000 per year, with the rate to rise from 2028.
    • The city has identified about 400 homes that were empty on 1 January 2026.

    Source: Almere city hall, “Almere voert leegstandbelasting in om woningen beschikbaar te houden”

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  4. Inclusion ·

    Almere launches city pass for residents on social assistance, citywide later

    Almere starts the first phase of its Stadspas at the end of June for residents on municipal social assistance, offering a free library subscription and discounts at venues such as Kinepolis and Walibi, with a pass for all residents later this year.

    Facts and source
    • The first phase of the Stadspas Almere starts at the end of June, beginning with residents on a minimum income who receive municipal social assistance.
    • A broad Stadspas for all Almere residents will follow later this year.
    • First-phase holders get a free library subscription and discounts or free offers at venues including Kinepolis, Walibi and Kunstlinie.

    Source: Almere city hall, “Almere opent deuren met Stadspas: eerste stap voor minima, hele stad volgt later dit jaar”

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City briefs are drafted with AI from official sources; every fact is matched automatically against the source text before publication, without an editor approving it first.

Projects we track

6 projects · 1 under way

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Almere Pampus: first phase of a new district

    A new district whose first phase would bring 7,500 homes and 4,000 jobs; the city is asking the national government for a fund for schools, sport and care facilities and for clarity by 2028 on funding a link to Amsterdam across the IJmeer, with a proposal to the council due in early 2027.

    Funded by Gemeente Almere, seeking investment from the national government (BO MIRT 2026) Regeneration and housing

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Campus Almere Centrum student housing

    The city, student landlord DUWO and housing association GoedeStede reserved land on the Esplanade for about 1,250 student homes next to the new Windesheim university of applied sciences building; construction of a first phase of about 600 homes is planned to start at the end of 2028.

    Funded by Stichting DUWO and Woningstichting GoedeStede, with Gemeente Almere Regeneration and housing

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Vacancy tax on empty homes

    To bring about 400 empty homes back into use, Almere is introducing a tax of €2,000 a year from 2027 on owners of homes empty for a year or longer, rising from 2028; the council is due to adopt the bylaw later in 2026.

    Regeneration and housing

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    New bus shelters on the rapid-bus network

    About 180 of the city's ageing bus shelters, out of 245 stops on its Bus Rapid Transit network, are to be replaced with a modular design, better lighting, travel information and step-free access; the first new shelters are expected in early 2027.

    Budget €4.5-5 million Funded by Mostly national government funds for public transport (Bikker-gelden), with a Province of Flevoland grant for accessibility Mobility

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Almere Isoleren insulation grants

    A grant scheme for owners of poorly insulated houses, launched in September 2025; after the original €2.65 million ran out within three months, the city raised the budget once to €3.05 million so that all valid applications can be paid.

    Budget €3,050,000 Funded by Gemeente Almere Climate and energy

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

    1. Planned
    2. Funded
    3. Under way
    4. Completed

    Stadspas Almere city pass

    A new city pass giving discounts and free access to culture, sport, nature and education, launched in June 2026 for residents on social assistance, with a version for all residents to follow later in the year.

    Funded by Gemeente Almere, with delivery partner BS&F Inclusion

    Status checked 23 October 2026 · Source

EU programmes and networks

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