A doctor who can help you when you are unwell, a good teacher for your children, being able to travel by bus to work or family – it should be the most normal thing in the world. It is the foundation you need to move forward in life and to lead a good and happy life.
Yet, that has not been a given for years. The emphasis on market forces, efficiency, and scaling up has undermined the foundation of our society. In sparsely populated regions like Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe, the focus on efficiency leads to a reduction in services. The political promise of being attentive to the people has turned into the opposite. Cuts were made, services were eliminated, and delays occurred.
That is why GroenLinks-PvdA is coming up with a Pact for the North. We deliver on our promises: we are presenting a large-scale investment package for the construction of new rail connections, including the Lely line. We ensure permanent doctors and fully-fledged regional hospitals. We ensure that young people can find a home in their own village or city. Together we move forward.
In this Pact for the North:
- Affordable and reliable public transport. We are investing in the construction of the Lely line and good regional public transport – in the hands of the community instead of handed over to the market.
- Tens of thousands of extra homes, in new locations in Northern Netherlands. Thanks to better connections and services, we ensure that young people can continue to live where they grew up.
- Stronger healthcare in the north, by helping starting doctors with a new practice, and by maintaining fully-fledged hospitals for the people in the neighborhood.
- Investments in education. We want to further develop the Safety Campus Assen, reverse cuts at the University of Groningen, keep and support vocational schools, and promote Frisian and the regional languages of the north.
- We address the misery and injustice of gas extraction. We are accelerating the reduction of extraction. We ensure that every victim receives what they are entitled to: a safe, damage-free, and sustainable home. And we invest unconditionally in the livability and heritage in Groningen and North Drenthe.
Want to know more?
Read further in our Pact for the North for more of our proposals specifically aimed at Northern Netherlands. Or discover in our election program what proposals we make to restore the foundation across the Netherlands, build more affordable homes, and fight for a green future. Together forward!