Lelystad: museums, stories & tips for your day

The story of Lelystad

Wherever you walk in Lelystad, a hundred years ago there was still the Zuiderzee. Flevoland is the largest artificial island in the world. At Batavialand lies the Batavia, a Dutch East India Company (VOC) ship rebuilt here at full size.

Lelystad is approx. 35 minutes by train from Amsterdam Centraal. From the station, take the bus to Batavialand, on the shore of the Markermeer. There you board the Batavia, the replica of a VOC ship from 1628, and see at the shipyard how ships were built with wood and rope. In the museum you discover how Flevoland was pumped dry, and what was found in the bed of the old sea: hundreds of shipwrecks. Aviation fans should also visit Aviodrome. The Oostvaardersplassen is a remarkable nature reserve full of birds and wild horses.

1628the original Batavia sets sail for Asia
1967the first residents move into Lelystad
1995the rebuilt Batavia is launched

Your museum day in Lelystad

One day, four moments. How to get the most out of your visit.

10:00MUSEUM
Batavialand On board the Batavia and around the shipyard.
13:00EAT
Lunch by the water Views of the Markermeer and the ships.
14:30SHOP
Batavia Stad Outlet shops next to the museum.
19:00SLEEP
Hotel in Lelystad Stay in the newest province of the Netherlands.

Lelystad in six moments

1629The Batavia is wrecked off the coast of Australia.
1918The Zuiderzee Act is passed, based on plans by engineer Cornelis Lely.
1957Eastern Flevoland is drained.
1967The first residents move into Lelystad.
1986Flevoland becomes the twelfth province of the Netherlands.
1995The rebuilt Batavia is launched.

What to do in Lelystad

Six places to complete your museum day.

01
Batavialand →

Board the Batavia, visit the shipyard and discover how Flevoland was reclaimed, with finds from old shipwrecks.

BataviapleinHalf a day
02
Aviodrome

The aviation museum at Lelystad Airport, with aircraft from the earliest days to the jumbo jet.

Lelystad Airport2 to 3 hours
03
Oostvaardersplassen

Marsh, grassland and thousands of birds, with hides and walking routes.

Between Lelystad and AlmereHalf a day
04
New land and the dyke

Walk along the Markermeer dyke and look out over the water this land came from.

Bataviahaven1 hour

Museums in Lelystad

Buy your tickets online and plan the rest of your day around them.

All museums in Lelystad (1)

Batavialand Lelystad

View Tickets & website ↗

On the map

All museums in Lelystad. Click a museum for the route.

Plan your trip to Lelystad ↗

Hidden story

The Batavia disaster

The original ship ran aground off Australia in 1629. What happened next is one of the darkest stories of the VOC.

Read the storyHide the story

In October 1628 the Batavia, the VOC's new flagship, left Texel for Asia. In June 1629 she struck a reef at the Houtman Abrolhos, small islands off the west coast of Australia. Commander Pelsaert sailed off in a longboat to fetch help from Batavia. On the islands, the under-merchant Jeronimus Cornelisz seized power and began a reign of terror in which many survivors were murdered. When Pelsaert returned, the culprits were punished. The wreck was rediscovered in 1963, and parts of it were raised in the 1970s. In Lelystad, craftspeople and young apprentices built a replica between 1985 and 1995, using old drawings and techniques.

Where: Batavialand, Lelystad

Beyond the city

Lelystad lies on the Markermeer, in the young polders of Flevoland.

Bus across the dyke, approx. 30 min

Enkhuizen

VOC town with the Zuiderzee Museum, across the Houtribdijk.

Route by public transport ↗

Bus or car via the Noordoostpolder

Schokland

A former island, now a World Heritage Site in the middle of the polder.

Route by public transport ↗

Train, approx. 35 min

Amsterdam

The National Maritime Museum, with another VOC ship: the Amsterdam.

Route by public transport ↗

Travel times are indicative. Live times on 9292.nl ↗.

SLEEP

Stay in Lelystad, between water and polder

Lelystad has hotels in the centre and by the water. Amsterdam is half an hour away by train. By bike you see how new this land is: straight roads, young forests and dykes with views over the water.

Find your hotel →