At the heart of the
Noordoostpolder, where the three main drainage canals Lemstervaart, Urkervaart and Zwolsevaart intersect, is the city of Emmeloord (1943). Named after an abandoned village on the island of
Schokland, Emmeloord is located in a
polder: land reclaimed from the
IJsselmeer, which earlier was part of the sea. Planned from the outset to be the first and the only major town of the polder, it is the local government and services centre. The first district built was called the Onkruidbuurt ("
weed neighbourhood"). Street names were chosen from the weeds that were growing all around on the former sea floor, like reed (Rietstraat), thistle (Distelstraat) and sea aster (Zeeasterstraat). From Emmeloord three main canals take their water to three pumping stations: the
Buma near
Lemmer (north), the
Smeenge at
Vollenhove (south-east) and the
Vissering on
Urk (south-west). In the center of Emmeloord there is a water tower called the
Poldertoren. The tower is the central point of the Noordoostpolder and could be seen from almost every location in the early years of the Noordoostpolder, when there were no tall trees. In Japan there is a replica of this water tower. == Surrounding villages ==