3 Days in Flevoland: The Ultimate Travel Guide to Discovering the Hidden Gems of the Netherlands

Flevoland, the Netherlands’ youngest province, is a hidden gem built on reclaimed land, offering a unique mix of nature and modern innovation. This location is perfect for a weekend getaway and don’t miss out as Flevoland tourism is growing, thanks to top attractions like the Oostvaardersplassen, and Batavia. Just a short drive from Amsterdam is an ideal destination for nature lovers and culture seekers alike!

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For your information, all these pictures were taken in October 2024.

Some information about Flevoland

Flevoland is the twelfth and latest region in the Netherlands, established in 1986. This is because the southern and eastern Flevopolders merged together with the Noordoospolder. So, before Flevoland became a reality, there was nothing more than the Zuiderzee or the Southern Sea. After draining the water, land became exposed and the region was formed. The Dutch really made this province possible!

This is the smallest province if you only count the dry land and if it includes much of the waters of the freshwater lakes, it’s much bigger. Lelystad is the capital of the region. The city was named after Cornelis Lely, the founder of the drainage of Flevoland. After all this happened, many shipwrecks became visible which are now an essential part of history!

How to get to Flevoland?

The Netherlands is located in the northwestern of Europe, which borders Germany and Belgium. The United Kingdom is a sea border. The country is quite easy to visit because it’s central to Europe and has a heavily visited capital.

Flevoland is located in the center of the Netherlands and is closely located to Amsterdam. So, there are many ways to reach this city!

1 | With the plane

As the airport of the Netherlands, better known as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, is one of the most visited airports in Europe, you can travel from almost all parts of the world to this country. But Amsterdam isn’t a part of Flevoland, so you still need to take another mode of transportation.

It only takes 50 minutes to reach the center of Flevoland, Lelystad, with the car from Schiphol. And it’s almost the same travel time with public transportation! Once you get to Lelystad, renting a bike and using it as your mode of transportation is possible.

2 | With public transportation

The train system is very well handled and is the most enjoyable to travel to the Netherlands! No matter the destination in the country, you will be there in no time!

I once traveled from Belgium to the Netherlands by train and it was such an easy, enjoyable train ride. You can also travel from Germany, but these times can take a bit longer, depending on where you come from. And once you reach Amsterdam, it’s super easy to get to Flevoland.

3 | By car

You can also come to the Netherlands by car like I did! For this region and this itinerary, it’s easier to come by car as some places are a bit far away from each other.

How to get around Flevoland?

You can travel around the region by bike or by car. As the Netherlands is well-known worldwide for being a bike country, taking a bike is perfect to incorporate into your trip, but know that some locations are a bit widespread and it’s easier to travel around with a car.

Where to stay in Flevoland?

The Zuiderkrib is the perfect accommodation for a trip to Flevoland, as it’s in the middle of nature. This tiny house has everything you will need, while it takes the environment into account. Imagine waking up in this house on the dike, looking outside, and viewing the water.

Inside the house, there is a bed for 2 people maximum. It also has a small kitchen and a shower, so basically everything you need. There is a parking space at the farm, and from there, you need to walk 1 kilometer to your destination. Keep that in mind with choosing your luggage. It’s also possible to book a healthy and homemade breakfast for an addition.

Flevoland Itinerary

Flevoland itinerary: Day 1

1 | Arriving at Zuiderkrib

After driving for about 3 hours, we finally arrived at the Zuiderkrib late in the afternoon. After talking with Heidi, the owner, we got our keys and enjoyed a beautiful sunset while putting our luggage away. As you can see in the picture, the sky was so clear, we could see a lot of stars when we returned from our dinner at Pier16!

2 | Have a delicious dinner at Pier16

Sadly enough, we arrived at Pier16 after dark as we can imagine that it has a beautiful view over the Ketelmeer. In the restaurant, you can enjoy lots of small and different dishes for 2 hours unlimited. This makes it perfect to taste lots of different things and expand your taste palette. And let me tell you one thing, everything we got was so tasty!

Flevoland itinerary: Day 2

3 | Start your day with a barefoothike

Never thought I would do a hike barefooted, but here I am, doing exactly that on my Saturday morning. I was quite nervous about doing this as I don’t like walking on my bare feet, but it was much nicer than I expected. Our guide Evert started by giving us some advice and tips on how to walk on your bare feet, which helped a lot.

And then it was time to start hiking! It was actually quite peaceful to just walk on our feet and feel the temperature differ from cold to hot and feel the surface change from grass to sand. It took us around an hour and then we arrived back to our starting position! It’s possible to do this yourself from March till December.

4 | Enjoy lunch at Paviljoen de Oostvaarders

The ending point of the barefooted hike was at the Paviljoen, so perfect to have lunch afterward. The environment of this lunch spot is very beautiful located at Oostvaardersplassen. Inside the Paviljoen, you have an amazing view of lots of nature and wildlife. And the lunch itself was also very good and healthy!

5 | Visit the museum Batavialand

This museum has to be one of the best I’ve ever visited! Everyone always asks what a large ship from the 17th century looks like from the inside, and here, at the Batavia, is the perfect place to see it with your own eyes. I’ve got to explore five different floors on the ship itself, all with a story to tell. There’s a lot of climbing and crawling as well, which makes it even more fun to discover.

There is also a wharf before climbing the Batavia. Here, you’ll learn more about building a ship and what it entails, like a blacksmith’s shop, weaving mill, sailmaker’s shop, brewery, … And lastly, there is also a museum that takes you 7000 years back in time with real shipwrecks.

Some information about the museum:

Prices: €16 for an adult and €8.5 for children
Opening hours: open every day, except on Monday, from 11 AM till 5 PM
Parking: at the VOC garage for €1.2 per hour and a maximum €10 for a whole day

6 | Have a stunning view at Tuurtoren

Before going to dinner, we stopped at a beautiful nature reserve called the ‘Stille Kern‘, translated to ‘Silent Core’. From the car park, we decided to take a small hike around the region. And we couldn’t believe what we saw! When we arrived at a viewing point, we saw a herd of Koniks horses drinking and eating. It was so magical.

After they all ran away, we decided to check out the Tuurtoren. This tower is 12 meters high and gives you a 360° view over the Stille Kern. You immediately see that this location is an oasis of tranquility.

7 | Have dinner at Fika

After such a long day, it’s time to have a delicious dinner at Fika. The interior is really beautiful and you’ll have to see for yourself. But what I thought was more stunning, was the beautiful surroundings of the restaurant! It’s located on a beach and gives you a stunning view while dining.

Flevoland itinerary: Day 3

8 | Have a morning walk at Waterloopbos

After the drainage of the polder, there were a few areas that were bad for farming, because of the soil. They didn’t want to waste this area and made it into one big open-air laboratory to learn more about water. The best way to do this was in a forest: there was less wind and clay loam is a good soil as the water can’t seep away. This continued until 1980, and the experiments were left behind.

Now, it’s used for cultural heritage as people can wander around this area and get to know more about water and the different experiments like the delta work. There are many different hiking trails, and we did two of them: the harbor route (white arrows) and the delta work route (yellow arrows). Both of the hikes overlapped nicely and can be done one after the other.

9 | Taste some delicious food at Proeflab//

Right after discovering the surroundings at Waterloopbos, it’s time for a delicious lunch. And what better than at the start of the hiking trails. It’s the perfect place to enjoy after a visit to the forest, with a stunning view of the Deltawork.

The name, Proeflab//, suggests it: the menu can differ as it’s always fresh, sustainable, with a creative twist, and as much as possible locally prepared. The name derives from the location: there are lots of different things to try. Another nice thing about this location is that it’s dog-proof as they have their own menu! Cool right?

10 | Learn about the history at museum Schokland

Schokland has been an island in the middle of the Zuiderzee for many years, but after the construction of the Noordoostpolder, this island ended up in new polder land, instead of the sea, in 1942. The area had been underwater for a long time, which is why the subsoil remained virtually untouched, and is this area an archaeological goldmine! There is information about a period of thousands of years!

This area was habited until 1859 when Schokland needed to be evacuated by Royal order. The reason for this is flood risk and dire poverty. The people had time to pack their stuff, and that’s why nothing is original on Schokland of this time. The only exception is the church that is in the middle of the museum.

This museum is a must-visit if you want to learn more about the history of Schokland and the region! It brought everything into a different perspective. The only advice I can give is to take a guide as well.

Some information about the museum:

Prices: €8 for an adult and €5 for children
Opening hours: open every day, except on Monday, from 11 AM till 5 PM
Parking: right at the entrance of the museum

11 | Unwind at dinner at 't Voorhuys

The perfect way to end this trip is by having dinner at ‘t Voorhuys. When entering the restaurant, you get immersed in a classic and warm look. The food itself was also very good and this was really a good ending to our trip to Flevoland!

Extra day in Flevoland - Natural Yachts

And if you have extra time in Flevoland, this is definitely a must-do! I got the opportunity to board one of the fifteen yachts and see what’s it all about. As Flevoland is surrounded by water, it’s impossible to do an activity on the water.

Natural Yachts is a family business that rents out electric yachts for one-day till week trips. The boats are all self-sufficient and have solar panels to recharge while you dock at a small village like Vollenhove like we did. The company has 5 routes that you can follow around the region. And on a last note, everyone can rent this trip, even with no experience as they offer a 2-hour course beforehand!

Other things to do in the Netherlands

I love going to the Netherlands as there is always something unique to discover. As the Netherlands is within driving distance of me, it’s perfect to discover this country one weekend at a time. And I want to encourage you to do the same.

Be sure to check out my other blog posts about things to do in the Netherlands:

Discover the Beauty of Land van de Peel in a Weekend Getaway – A fun weekend trip in the Netherlands lies in North Brabant. This itinerary is filled with fun hikes and activities!
Exploring the Charming Scenery of North Brabant during a 3-Day Cycling Adventure – If you want a different type of vacation, make sure to check out my biking trip in the Netherlands. Check it out, so you know what to expect
The Perfect Itinerary for a City Trip to Breda – Breda is such a beautiful city, which I loved to explore. It’s the perfect combination of city and nature!

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Travel blogger

Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!

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