Urk is a municipality and town located in the Flevoland province of the Netherlands. Situated in the center-north of the country, it lies on the coast of the IJsselmeer and is surrounded by the Noordoostpolder on land. The settlement occupies a boulder clay high area that formed during Pleistocene glaciations, marking the highest point in Flevoland. Administratively, Urk has belonged to Flevoland since 1986, having previously been part of North Holland and Overijssel.

The oldest recorded instance of the name Urk appears in a 966 donation certificate from Holy Roman Emperor Otto I. For centuries, it existed as an island in the Almere, which later became part of the Zuiderzee tidal sea. Its status as an island ended in October 1939 when a dike connected it to the mainland during the Zuiderzee Works. The surrounding seabed was later reclaimed to form the Noordoostpolder, integrating Urk into the larger landmass while preserving its coastal access.

Urk is distinguished by its genuine old architecture and settlement history, contrasting with the rest of Flevoland which lacks historic buildings. The town features the highest point in the province and retains a unique cultural identity. A notable landmark is the memorial to lost fishermen, popularly known as the Urker vrouw, depicting a woman awaiting her husband's return. The community maintains a tight-knit social structure and conservative religious traditions rooted in Dutch Reformed denominations.

The local culture is defined by a unique dialect occupying a liminal space between Dutch and Low Saxon, spoken by nearly all residents regardless of age or class. Urkers take pride in their folk costumes and traditional way of life. The area attracts visitors interested in its distinct linguistic heritage and conservative community character. Tourism is actively promoted by the local council alongside retail and fisheries, drawing those seeking to experience this historically isolated and culturally preserved municipality.

Urk had a population of 21,227 as of 2021. The economy remains anchored in fishing, supported by the largest fishing fleet in the Netherlands, though boats now travel further for catches. Transport access includes the A6 motorway and regular summer ferry services to Enkhuizen, but the town lacks a railway station, with nearest stations approximately 30 kilometers away. This isolation contributes to its demographic profile as the youngest municipality in the country.