This location forms the tenth National Meeting Square (ROP) in the national network of meeting places for government employees and strengthens the visibility and proximity of the government in Zeeland. It offers an inspiring place where colleagues from inside and outside the government can meet, consult, and collaborate. National Meeting Squares are part of the cabinets approach to strengthen the visibility and proximity of the government together with provinces and regions. The added value for the region is that government employees living in Zeeland can more easily meet colleagues from outside Zeeland in Middelburg; the ROP also strengthens cooperation between employees of the government, province, and municipalities. The ROP is furnished with a mix of work and meeting places: meeting spots at tables and in a lounge area with sofas and armchairs, standard desk workspaces, phone booths, touchdown spots for short laptop work, and a spacious meeting room.
The opening will be performed by the mayor of Middelburg, Yvonne van Mastrigt, the Kings Commissioner in Zeeland, Hugo de Jonge, and the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Frank Rijkaart.
A special part of the opening is the unveiling of the artwork Mare - Zeeland 2025 by Zeeland artist Rem van den Bosch. This artwork symbolizes the joint ambition of the region and the government to build a future-proof Zeeland. The sculpture depicts a young woman representing new generations and contains elements referring to climate adaptation, energy transition, and cooperation.
With this ROP, the national government expands its network and takes the next step in cooperation between governments. Other National Meeting Squares have already opened in Assen, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Den Bosch, and Eindhoven. In Lelystad, the ROP is housed in the provincial government building. Depending on experiences with the current National Meeting Squares, further expansion will take place in the coming years to ultimately 15 to 20 locations across the Netherlands.
Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Frank Rijkaart: “With the National Meeting Square in Middelburg, we increase opportunities for people to live in Zeeland and work for the national government. I invite provincial and municipal officials to find their way to the National Meeting Square. Meet with government employees there. Then the National Meeting Square is more than just a facility for the national government. It connects us: region and government!”
Kings Commissioner in Zeeland Hugo de Jonge: “With this National Meeting Square, we literally bring the national government a bit closer to Zeeland. I worked on this as Minister. Good governance requires proximity: being able to meet, listen, and collaborate. With this, we continue to build that connection. Zeeland not only needs the government, but the government certainly also needs Zeeland.”
Mayor of Middelburg Yvonne van Mastrigt: “Middelburg has a rich history as an administrative center in Zeeland. Since the tenth century, the city has been an important ecclesiastical and administrative center, with the abbey as the seat of regional government.
In 1217 Middelburg received city rights, further strengthening its role as regional capital and location for government institutions. From today, a new chapter can be added to this history as an administrative city with the National Meeting Square.”
