Groningen and the national government will intensively collaborate in the coming years on housing construction, energy transition, and regional economy. This has been laid down in the Future Agenda Groningen. The funding for this will come from existing programs, European funds, and the 1.42 billion euros that the national government previously committed as part of the reinforcement operation.

The Future Agenda stems from the agreements made regarding the reinforcement operation. The national government committed 1.42 billion euros last November to accelerate that operation and to invest in the sustainable future of the province. From European funds, the national government is investing around 500 million euros in green economic growth and digital innovation to realize the ambitions of Groningen.

The Future Agenda focuses on three central themes of collaboration: housing construction, energy transition, and regional economy. The national government and the region will now meet every 6 months at cabinet level to discuss concrete projects and the progress of the Future Agenda.

While the city of Groningen is growing significantly, the northern and eastern parts of the province are experiencing decline. Therefore, the national government and the region are making agreements to accelerate housing construction in the city, where 20,000 homes will be built in the short term. At the same time, the national government involves the declining regions and the city in the development of the yet-to-be-established Housing Fund. The goal is to maintain livability in both the rural areas and the city of Groningen. The approach to achieve this must also be applicable in other regions of the Netherlands.

The governments are heavily investing in the development of Groningen as an important player in the energy transition. In the past, the Netherlands was warmed by gas from Groningen; soon it will be thanks to sustainable energy developed in the north. The national government and the region are entering into a long-term partnership to develop projects in this area.

Moreover, Groningen will take a leading role in making existing neighborhoods and areas more sustainable. The national government is investing in natural gas-free neighborhoods in the earthquake-affected area. For villages in the municipalities of Eemsdelta, Midden-Groningen, and Het Hogeland, 18.3 million euros is available for this.

To give the regional economy a lasting boost after the closure of the gas tap, the parties have committed to invest in training and retraining of people who want to work in the energy transition, healthcare, or the SME sector.

Additionally, the national government is committed to 50 million euros in subsidies for the Djewels project, in the field of green hydrogen. Groningen has the potential to be a European example in the hydrogen economy. This can make a valuable contribution to achieving climate goals while simultaneously strengthening the Northern labor market.

Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations: “With this Future Agenda, we are focusing on important themes for the people of Groningen such as housing construction, energy transition, and the regional economy. We are entering into a long-term collaboration to keep Groningen livable in the future.”

Bas van ’t Wout, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate: “Groningen and energy are connected – and will remain connected, but in a different way. Groningen as a leader in sustainable energy, with a strong regional economy. It is an ambitious program for the coming years, a solid and beautiful foundation for collaboration.”

René Paas, Commissioner of the King of the Province of Groningen: “This Future Agenda is a promise that the national government and the region will work out together in the coming years. We will bundle money and knowledge for a long time. The national government and Groningen now have a permanent agenda for the future.”