Blog
Final Migration Day at Gemeente Almere
Closing a long chapter in public-sector IT
Today was one of those quietly significant days: The final step in the migration project for Gemeente Almere. After years of preparation, collaboration, and gradual transitions, the last two on-premises servers were powered down and decommissioned.
No fireworks. No dramatic countdown. Just a sense of “that's it — we're done.”
A Long Road, Done Properly
This migration wasn't a single event, but a long-running process spread over multiple phases and teams. Over time, hundreds of systems were moved, replaced, or retired — all while keeping day-to-day municipal operations running without or atleast minimal disruption (which, in public sector IT, is very much the goal).
The scope included:- Application and infrastructure servers
- Core directory and file services
- End-user platforms and remote-access environments
- Careful handover to a new vendor and operational model
- Every step needed to be predictable, documented, and reversible — because production systems don't forgive shortcuts.
Collaboration Over Heroics
What made this project work wasn't a single clever solution, but consistent collaboration. Engineers, architects, service managers, and client stakeholders all played their part. Decisions were made carefully, changes were tested properly, and no one pushed the big red button without a solid plan.
That may not sound exciting — but in infrastructure work, boring usually means successful.
The Final Moment
And then today: the last two servers. Checked. Rechecked. Dependencies confirmed.
Power off ⏻
It's a strangely satisfying moment when a system that once mattered a lot… no longer needs to exist.
Looking Back
This project also marked the closing phase of my long-term engagement with Gemeente Almere Over the years, I worked on everything from infrastructure modernization to remote-work scaling and operational transitions. Ending it with a clean, controlled shutdown feels like the right conclusion.
No loose ends. No “we'll fix that later.” Just a system that did its job — and can now rest.
On to the next chapter.
All good things must end, even the ones you didn't want to leave behind.
Many thanks for everyone who worked on this project! Making it a great success for the client. Special thanks to some of my fellow engineers:
Marco van 't Hoog, System Engineer, Fujitsu Franck van Alphen, System Engineer, Fujitsu Yakup Caliskan, Network Engineer, Fujitsu Jeffrey Sedney, Cloud Architect/Engineer, Rapid Circle Lionell van Leeuwaarden, Cloud Engineer, Rapid Circle Akram Makhlouf, Cloud Engineer, Rapid Circle