By FLEVO, translated and edited by RFF
On July 24, 2025, Flevo Campus hosted an international delegation from the University of Liège (Centre de Recherches en Agriculture Urbaine / C-RAU), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (project coordinator) and ASTREDHOR – Institut des professionnels du végétal as part of the European research project FOODCITYBOOST. The visit highlighted Flevo Campus and Almere’s role as a Living Lab, with tours of local urban farming initiatives to strengthen connections and explore future collaboration. A delegation, including Haïssam Jijakli and Maylis Leblanc (ULIEGE), Charlotte Liborio-Cornet (ASTREDHOR), along with Pierre Chopin and Clara Jeanroy (VU Amsterdam), explored a wide range of urban agriculture initiatives across the city of Almere, the Netherlands.
The day began at The Natural Pavilion, home of Flevo Campus, where director Filip Otten presented Almere’s food innovation ambitions, followed by a visit to the floating farm on the Weerwater lake. At VINDplaats Zenit, the group discovered how community gardening and creativity flourish on land protected for its prehistoric archaeological remains. The tour continued at ONZE Volkstuinen (“Our Allotment Gardens”), where entrepreneur Ron van Zwet manages 1,600 greenhouses filled with tropical crops ranging from sopropo (a variety of bitter melon) to avocados. Here, biodiversity keeps the system resilient without pesticides, while gardeners form a strong community by sharing seeds, plants, and knowledge. (Photo Credits: mediamatic.net).
Collaboration in Oosterwold
After lunch at Odin Vliervelden, the group explored Oosterwold, a unique neighborhood where half of the land must be dedicated to food production. At the Center for Urban Farming Oosterwold, they discussed opportunities and challenges with local pioneers. The day concluded at Burgerboerderij Oosterwold with a stakeholder dinner, where local initiatives and researchers exchanged insights and discussed new partnerships well into the evening.
Almere as a Living Lab
As a city still in development, Almere offers fertile ground for experimentation in urban farming. Through FOODCITYBOOST, Flevo Campus and Almere connect people, projects, and institutions, building a dynamic network that drives innovation and shows a unique path forward for urban agriculture.
