Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and Flevoland can build 220,000 extra houses in the coming years, but only if the infrastructure is improved. In this way, the four provinces say they want to contribute to solving the housing shortage in the Netherlands.
The provinces are launching the plan in a report that they are presenting to politicians in The Hague today. “In order to realize the northern contribution to the housing challenge and the economic growth potential, excellent (inter) national and (inter) regional accessibility is necessary,” they state.
9.5 billion euros to rail
The provinces especially want better rail connections. For example, the Lelylijn must be created to improve the connection with the Randstad. A second missing track link according to the provinces is the much-desired Lower Saxony line from Enschede via Emmen to Groningen, including a connection to the German rail network. In addition, the provinces want the existing track to be improved.
All these track improvements together cost 9.5 billion euros, the four provinces write. “The benefits far outweigh this. If the economic potential of the northern Netherlands can be fully utilized, the value of the regional production of goods and services will grow by some 24 billion a year.”
If those connections are established, the four provinces therefore believe they can build 220,000 additional homes, on top of the 100,000 homes already planned. It concerns 45,000 homes in Drenthe, 80,000 in Flevoland, 45,000 in Friesland and 50,000 in Groningen.
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