D66 wants to build a city in new polder between Amsterdam and Almere

If the D66 has its way, a completely new city will rise in the IJmeer lake between Amsterdam and Almere, providing housing for 126,000 people. This will require the reclamation of an area of 2,500 hectares and cost around 20 billion euros, the party estimates. This is one of the plans from the election manifesto that the D66 will present this week.

“IJstad,” as the D66 has provisionally dubbed the new city, is intended to provide space for 60,000 homes and thus make a significant contribution to solving the “gigantic” housing shortage. It will be “a modern, compact city with a mix of urban development and abundant green space.” In total, the party wants ten new cities to be built in the coming decades.

“Just like Dutch companies are doing in large numbers around the world, we are now creating land in the Netherlands again,” the D66 said. “Why are we building two and perhaps even three more Maasvlaktes for heavy industry, but no space for housing for people?”

According to the D66, its proposal aligns with existing plans for a new rail and road connection between Amsterdam and Almere, which the party calls “far too long overdue.” This new connection, preferably a tunnel, is also necessary to implement the existing plans for the construction of 30,000 homes in Almere Pampus.

The IJmeer connection alone is estimated to cost €10 billion. D66 estimates the cost of draining and building the new city at €5 billion. The party wants to invest the same amount in nature restoration and expansion of the artificial Marker Wadden nature reserve. “A significant investment,” the party acknowledged. It did not specify where the money would come from.