Almere.

Almere rises from land reclaimed from the IJsselmeer, built in Flevoland as a planned alternative to the dense old cities of the Netherlands. Its layout gives unusual room to water and green space: canals and lakes weave through residential districts, parks stretch into the city centre, and Almere Haven, the harbour district, keeps a quieter, village-like character apart from the newer neighbourhoods.

The city centre is known for its contemporary architecture, with angular buildings and bold colours that depart from traditional Dutch townscapes. The Kunstlinie Almere Flevoland theatre and cultural centre sits at the heart of this area. Nearby, the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve brings grazing herds and wetland birds close to the edge of the city, giving Almere a wilder side uncommon in a place this new.

Waterways double as a leisure network, with routes for paddling and sailing threading past parks and housing estates, opening onto stretches of open lake. Modern design, water and greenery sit side by side here, each shaping how the city feels to move through at an easy pace.