“As a province with no less than 353 kilometers of border with Belgium and Germany, we are the most international region in the Netherlands. Our location offers unique opportunities but also requires smart cooperation. With our new neighboring countries strategy, we build on the strong foundation of previous generations and now take the next step together: truly leveraging the regions advantages for Limburg residents,” said Elianne Demollin-Schneiders, deputy and portfolio holder for Neighboring Countries Policy.
The Sleeping Giant
This renewed strategy is also the concrete follow-up to the motion ‘The Sleeping Giant’ adopted by the Provincial Council. It explicitly focuses on a low-threshold and cross-border labor market and on trinational educational facilities, reinforcing Limburgs role as a lively and dynamic border region.
With the neighboring countries strategy, Limburg opts for an integrated approach: cooperation with Flanders, Wallonia, and North Rhine-Westphalia becomes a real priority. This covers the full range of relevant themes, including education and labor market, economy, mobility, and tax matters. The Province will continue to develop a dynamic border area in the coming years where people, companies, and knowledge institutions can easily find each other and achieve more together.
The Limburg Citizen Central
What do Limburg residents notice concretely? Deputy Demollin-Schneiders: “This strategy is not just a paper exercise. We want residents to experience benefits. Think, for example, of removing barriers around cross-border work and study and making practical matters like tax arrangements easier. With our good neighbor, we want to achieve faster progress together, especially in an area full of potential.”
With this plan, the Province also fulfills its role as a bridge builder, where past experiences continue to weigh in. Demollin-Schneiders: “We consciously focus on continuity. Much has already been set in motion by our predecessors, and we can be proud of that. At the same time, we now bring focus and energy to make the border region work even better for our residents. It requires perseverance, but our border location is not a side issue; it is a main issue.”
Springboard to Opportunities for Everyone
Besides removing practical obstacles, the province also invests extra in knowledge exchange, innovation, and jointly utilizing European funds, so Limburg remains a frontrunner in sustainable growth. By strengthening partnerships and bundling initiatives, Limburg becomes an even more attractive place to live, work, and do business. With this strategy, Limburgs unique border location is maximally used as a springboard to opportunities for everyone in the province.
