Dronten

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Dronten
Location of Dronten
Country Netherlands
Province Flevoland
Area (2006)
 - Total 423.86 km² (163.7 sq mi)
 - Land 334.35 km² (129.1 sq mi)
 - Water 89.51 km² (34.6 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2007)
 - Total 38,081
 - Density 114/km² (295.3/sq mi)
  Source: CBS, Statline.
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)

Dronten (pronunciation ) is a municipality and a town in the central Netherlands. Its population is 38.060 (2006).

Contents

[edit] Population centers

[edit] History

Plans for the municipality of Dronten were made in the early half of the 1950's; real plans for the town of Dronten (the municipality's center) were revealed in 1958.

The foundations for the town were laid in 1960. Right from the start there was a discussion whether Dronten was to become a town or a city. The first plans assumed 15,000 inhabitants, while later plans foresaw a growth to 30,000 inhabitants. The first plans for the municipality assumed ten smaller villages situated around the central town (in this case Dronten). The number of villages was reduced due to increased traffic and experiences gained in developing the Noordoostpolder, where a similar municipality had already been built. Eventually it was decided there were to be two smaller villages (Biddinghuizen and Swifterbant) and one larger town (Dronten).

On 1 January 1972 Dronten was given its official name

In 1995, The 18th World Scout Jamboree was held just outside of the town. 28,960 scouts from across the world attended this event.

[edit] Entertainment

Biddinghuizen contains the theme park Walibi World.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 52°32′N, 5°43′E