Monstad

Monstad is the capital and most populous city of Ecoralia.
 * 8.7 million people of the 18.8 in the ward.
 * Near major cities Oosthaven and Keesham.
 * Draws in commuters from beyond the area through its transit system.
 * Sits at mouth of Gaal River into the Onse Bay.


 * Seat of power in Ecoral politics through time.
 * Emerge as a political central during Samenwaterijk.
 * Roodham and Monstad as key centres.
 * Capital of Ecoraland after Upper Gaal River Valley conflict in 1100s.
 * Establishment of Monberg Castle as seat of Ecoralander monarchy.
 * Major trading port in North Alutran Sea
 * Economic boom after EECanal.
 * Modern city, cosmopolitan features of Ecoralia.
 * Diversity through Ecoralander colonies.
 * Financial capital for the region.
 * Cultural industries.
 * Political spheres.
 * Major airport as regional hub.

Name

 * Gaal River estuary.
 * Trading port.
 * Westermarkt and Monstad as central pair, taking eastern side.

History

 * Gaal River estuary long-inhabited.
 * One of first urbanised areas in the world.
 * Political dominance in Ecoral politics.
 * Samenwaterijk
 * Access through Sams and Gaal Rivers
 * Also main port for Keesham and Monberg Castle
 * Emergence as a global port through EECanal.
 * Invoke Ecoral Enlightenment
 * Rail stations, expanded urbanisation
 * Further details TBC, based on emergence of neighbours and narratives

Geography

 * Core of the Monstad ward, which is in the centre of the Ecoraland home counties.
 * Continuous urban area with Keesham and Oosthaven.
 * Neighbouring wards, Tweestromen, Netjestrand, and Gaalland.
 * Southern coastline of Onse Bay, meeting with Gaal River.
 * Mostly low-lying ground along the estuary.
 * Easily transportation through the central part of the country.
 * Economic emergence through its geographic position.

Climate

 * Dfb, Humid continental climate, Warm summer subtype.
 * Mild summer; long, cold winter.
 * Snowfall and rain modest and consistent through most of the year.
 * Daylight hours (TBC based on latitude)

Government

 * Monstad has a mayor and a city council.
 * Mayor elected every three years, most recently in 2018.
 * Current mayor is Eilert Jansen, SD, first elected in 2018.
 * SD also hold a plurality of seats on the city council, in government with AL.
 * Monstad is a city within a ward of the same name.
 * Ward created by Local Government Act 1967 to split from Gaalland.
 * Elected city government has existed since Ecoral Enlightenment.
 * Mayoral position created in 1934.
 * Uniquely in Monstad, powers of local governance are shared across three tiers.
 * Also in Netjemond and Roodham.
 * Borough: Education, Planning Applications, Libraries, Waste, P&R
 * City: Housing, Roads, Police, Fire, Land Use Planning
 * Ward: Revenue, Transport, Utilities, Healthcare

Demographics and society

 * Monstad is the most populous city in Alutra.
 * City proper has 8.7, ward has 18.8, metropolitan area 20m+.
 * Substantial population growth over the past 30 years with immigration.
 * Statistics on ethnicity only available at the ward level, but 63% have Ecoralander background.
 * Ecoralian colonies, 14%, as next largest group. 8% Tretuish, 6.5% Eduran.
 * 2% other Sedic, 7% other.


 * Monstad is a moderately religious city compared to Ecoralian national standards.
 * Around one third Stroomist, one third undeclared, and rest a mix of other faiths.
 * Stroomism remains one of the most influential faiths in the city, including the prominent Monstad Bødehuis.

Economy

 * Monstad is one of the two major economic centres in Ecoralia.
 * Compared to Netjemond's industrial and transport-oriented economy, Monstad is dominated by the services sector.
 * Modern industries including medical research, telecommunications, and financial services.
 * Monstad also has a strong cultural sector, with IOM Studios, Ecoralian film production.


 * Globally, the city is a centre for telecommunications and ICT-based industries.
 * State-owned Ecoratel is headquartered in Monstad
 * Lea, a device manufacturer, has its headquarters in Monstad.
 * Southern Parkenberg neighbourhood as a start-up hotspot. "Telenberg"


 * Shipping and maritime trade have been historically important to the city's economy.
 * Monstad Port has always been one of the largest ports in the North Alutran Sea.
 * Due to its geographic position at the mouth of the Gaal River, received raw materials through much of Ecoraland's mainland and the Alutran Steppe.
 * Remains an essential part of the Monstad economy, although it has reduced as a percentage of the overall economy, especially due to the seasonal global access to the port compared to Netjemond's year-round oceanic access.


 * Monstad's position as the largest Ecorophone city and the capital of Ecoralia has given it substantial basis for performing arts.
 * Host city for public broadcaster, IOM Ecoralian Public Media.
 * Theatre district in Ochtenveld.
 * Arts and cultural scene in Oostkade.
 * Royal Ballet in Monstad Centre, Royal Opera in Zuidoever.


 * Government and public sector are also prominent features of the city's economy.
 * Monberg Castle in Keespark.
 * Pratenplaats and City Hall in Monstad Centre.
 * Zuidoever incl embassy way. Ambassadeweg.
 * Universities such as Zoas, Monstad City, and Monstad Free.
 * Much of the country's medical research is publicly-owned and publicly-financed, incl Ecoralian Crown Trust.

Cityscape

 * Much of Monstad has built out from the sides of the Gaal River as it meets Onse Bay.
 * Monstad Centre and Westermarkt contain the historic dual centres of the urban area.
 * Keespark, more inland, has the oldest architecture, surrounding Monberg Castle.
 * Zuidoever and Ochtenveld boroughs, in between these two cores, have historically been very diverse and mixed neighbourhoods.


 * The city extends across much of Onse Bay.
 * Westenbaai contains the central business district, Monstad Port, Monstad Ferryport.
 * Eastern shore, Oostkade and Zeedorp, have been recent sites of major urban renewal.
 * Zandenhoek as natural park and common tourist destination in warm months.
 * Groenveld holds the airport.


 * The southwestern part of the city includes landmarks like Telenberg, Park Hill, Zoas University campus, and Zoas Urban Forest.

Culture

 * Monstad is a cultural hub for Ecorophone world and Alutra generally.
 * Strong cultural appeal for its performing arts scene.
 * Monstad Film Festival is one of the world's largest film festivals and takes place early March every year.
 * Ecoralian library culture also means the the city boasts an above-average number of internationally-known museums.

Museums

 * Monstad has a large number of museums and libraries.
 * National Museum in Zuidoever.
 * Ecoral Film Institute in Westenbaai.
 * Monstad Fine Art Museum in Monstad.
 * National Library in Monstad.
 * Stroomist Gallery, art collection and cultural centre, operated by the Bødehuis.
 * Monstad Contemporary Art Museum, at the foot of Park Hill.

Leisure and entertainment

 * Ochtenveld neighbourhood: theatres
 * Royal Ballet in Monstad Centre, Royal Opera in Zuidoever.
 * Nightlife in eastern Monstad Centre and SW Zeedorp.

Sports

 * hosting !Olympics in a recent year
 * Developments in southern Oostwijk.

Education

 * Zoas University
 * Monstad City University
 * Universities such as Zoas, Monstad City, and Monstad Free.
 * Much of the country's medical research is publicly-owned and publicly-financed, incl Ecoralian Crown Trust.

Transport

 * Two airports: MON, MKH
 * Two major rail termini: Westenbaai and
 * Monstad Ferryport

Notable people

 * Gustaaf van Heide, Monstad Democrat while writing My Strand in Time