Zeewolde

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Zeewolde

Country	Netherlands
Province	Flevoland </tr> <tr style="vertical-align: top;"> <td>Coordinates</td> <td>52°22′ N 5°33′ E</td>Coordinates: 52°22′N 5°33′E
Area	268,97 km²
- Land	248.76 km²
- Water	20.21 km²
Population (2005)	19,082
- Density	77/km²

Zeewolde (pronunciation (help·info)) is a municipality and a town in the Flevoland province in the central Netherlands. It has a population of approximately 20,000 and is one of the youngest villages in the Netherlands. It is situated in the polder of Flevoland with the small lake called the Wolderwijd to the east. To the south is a large deciduous forest called the Horsterwold. To the west there is a lot of agriculture. Zeewolde is famous for its landscape and nature art. The most famous art work is Sea Level by Richard Serra. Newcastle Falcons-player Tim Visser comes from Zeewolde.

[edit] History

The municipality of Zeewolde was founded in 1984 and is therefore one of the youngest in the Netherlands. Before 1984, the area was administrated by the Openbaar Lichaam Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders (OLZIJ) (English: Public Body of Southern IJsselmeer Polders), founded by the Dutch national government after the province of Flevoland was created. The name 'Zeewolde' was always ment to be used during the planning stages, but on various locations.

Zeewolde's first inhabitants were the so-called 'pioneers', moving in from the 'old land' to the newly created polder in 1979. They were mostly farmers and in the beginnnig stages deprived oof amenities such as electricity or tap water. The planned village was then mostly meant to provide services to the neighbouring farmers. Alongside the farmers, two holiday resorts were founded in the area.

In August 1980, the Zeewolde advisory board, headed by Han Lammers who was at the time the head of the OLZIJ, met for the first time. In February 1982, municipal elections were held and the first structuurplan (Structural plan) was drawn, envisaging the village to grow to 15.000 inhabitants. The actual village itself was started in 1983, after which in 1984 Zeewolde became a municipality in its own right. On February 23, 1984, the official first inhabitant of the village of Zeewolde was handed over the keys of his house.