In 2018, Landschapsbeheer Flevoland launched the Oral History Zeewolde project. In collaboration with volunteers and the municipality of Zeewolde, the story of Zeewolde was recorded through a total of 30 interviews. During these interviews with, for example, Zeewolde’s first general practitioner, its first residents, and gamekeepers, questions were explored such as: What did the reclaimed seabed look like? What was the first thing to grow there? When and how did animals arrive on the new land? What was it like to be among the first people to live in this barren environment? The best stories have been compiled into a film. Historian Lenie Hanse has also compiled some of the stories in the book “Alleen maar zand en riet” (Nothing but sand and reeds).
The stories of these pioneers of the polders have led to the writing of a book by Lenie Hanse.
Excerpts from the interviews have been published on Flevolands Geheugen. You can find some excerpt here
Aantal interviews: 30
Period: 1958-1981
Historian Lenie Hanse-Bolle collected the most beautiful stories and wrote them down in “Zover je keek was er niets” (As far as you could see, there was nothing). Eyewitness accounts of the history of the Flevoland landscape.
The vision of the pioneers and first inhabitants of our unique province’s landscape and nature continues to fascinate us. Reason enough for Landschapsbeheer Flevoland (Flevoland Landscape Management) to create a StoryMap of their stories, which can be viewed digitally by everyone.
‘As far as the eye could see, there was nothing’ takes the reader on an engaging journey through the history of the reclamation and development of Flevoland. By clicking on an intelligent map, the reader is stimulated with text, photos, multimedia, and interactive features. It’s an ideal way to experience the lives of the pioneers who made Flevoland what it is today from the comfort of your own home.
What did the reclaimed seabed look like? What was the first thing to grow there? When and how did the animals arrive on the new land? What is it like to farm on newly reclaimed seabed and what did the young landscape look like?
Find the answers to these and other questions about nature and landscape in the early days of the Noordoostpolder and Oost-Flevoland.
