Gooimeer Lake

Address: Gooimeer, Flevoland / North Holland border, Netherlands

Gooimeer is a shallow lake in the central Netherlands situated between the Flevoland polder and the Gooi region of North Holland, and is part of the chain of bordering lakes known as the Randmeren. It serves as a local recreational and navigation waterway rather than a large inland sea.

The lake is used widely for sailing, windsurfing and small-boat recreation, with marinas and shore facilities in the adjacent towns of Almere, Naarden and Huizen. The Hollandse Brug crosses the southern end of the lake, linking Flevoland to the older mainland.

Gooimeer was created as a consequence of 20th-century land reclamation and water-management projects associated with the development of Flevoland. Its shoreline is urbanised in places and includes promenades, marinas and small nature areas.

Geographically the lake lies to the east of Amsterdam and forms part of the inland water network separating the Flevoland polder from the Gooi and Naarden areas.

• Access points: Shore towns such as Almere, Naarden and Huizen border the lake and provide marinas, cafes and launching points for sailing and wind sports.
• Origin: The water body formed part of the postwar reclamation landscape around Flevoland and functions as one of the Randmeren lakes separating the polder from the older mainland.

Gooimeer sits between the provinces of Flevoland and North Holland. By car it is reachable from the A6 motorway with local roads (N302, N305) providing access to lakeside villages. The nearest larger towns with train connections are Almere and Lelystad; from there local buses or bicycle routes connect to the lake shore.

• Bring binoculars - Gooimeer is popular with waterbirds and reedbed species in spring and autumn.
• Cycle paths circle much of the lake; the N302 and N305 roads run nearby for easy access by bike.
• If aiming for quiet, visit on weekday mornings outside tourist-season weekends.