Construction of Emmeloord began in 1946, four years after the polder was reclaimed. The town, which has only had city rights since 1992, is centrally located in the Noordoostpolder. Emmeloord is named after a settlement on the northern tip of the former island of Schokland, whose reconstructed harbour still bears the name Oud-Emmeloord.
In the centre of Emmeloord and thus pretty much in the middle of the Noordoostpolder stands the Polder Tower. A striking building that you can already see from far away. Originally, it was a water tower, used to maintain the pressure in the local water supply system. The Poldertoren is 65.30 metres high, making it the highest (former) water tower in the Netherlands. Nowadays, the Poldertoren houses a carillon and you can stay overnight at height in the Torenkamers van 't Voorhuys.
In the centre of Emmeloord, you can enjoy shopping at many well-known chain shops, unique concept stores and boutiques. Of course, while shopping, you can go to various locations for a snack, drink or ice cream. And parking? For free on the square next to the shopping street!
Next to the Polder Tower you will find the entertainment centre of the polder: Horecaplein De Deel. As the name suggests, you will find various catering establishments here. But there is more: a cinema, a theatre and a casino. The perfect location for a night out.
Both in and outside the centre of Emmeloord, you will find a diverse range of restaurants, (food) cafes and other catering establishments. Have a nice dinner at Bij Ons, Da Enzo, Brasserie AanDeel, Chillers or one of the other many options.
Spend the night in Emmeloord the way you like it. If you choose a hotel, go to 't Voorhuys or Van der Valk. If you prefer to sleep in a bed & breakfast, you can go to B&B Mijn Ouders. Camping is also possible: book a spot at Camping Het Bosbad or park your camper at Camperplaats Emmeloord.
In summer, you will find excitement and thrills at the Draf- en renbaan Emmeloord and entertainment at the Wellerwaard beach. Children can enjoy themselves all year round at the Emmelerbos petting zoo or in Het Bosbad swimming pool, and with a (group of) friends it is fun to explore the area on a Zundapp or escape from an escape room.
The bus station is situated in the centre of Emmeloord and provides good connections not only to the villages within the municipality itself, but also to towns such as Zwolle, Groningen and Lelystad. At the bus station, there is a bike-sharing hub with e-bikes that you can book, unlock and pay for based on the time used via the Deelfiets Nederland app. Ideal if you’ve arrived by bus and want to continue by bike. But it’s also handy if you’ve come by car, as you can park here for free whilst you’re out cycling. Emmeloord has another bike-sharing hub at Bij Ons in the Welleraard, just outside the town centre. Here, too, you can park for free and pick up an e-bike.
Read more about the bicycle hubs
