[1] On 6 December 2012 the railway was opened by Queen Beatrix, using the Dutch Royal Train to traverse the new track.

[3][4][5] The line includes a 790 metres (2,590 ft) tunnel under the Drontermeer (the semi-artificial channel separating the mainland from the reclaimed Eastern Flevoland), and joins the existing Utrecht–Kampen railway just before the 1 km (0.62 mi) high-level fixed bridge over the river IJssel.

This new bridge, known as the Hanzeboog, includes a separate pedestrian and cycle track in addition to the double-tracked railway.

It opened on 14 June 2011, replacing a rail-only twin-span vertical-lift drawbridge that had been in place since just after the Second World War.

Interliner express bus route 330, which connected Lelystad and Zwolle, was discontinued upon opening of the Hanzelijn.