Southeast Friesland: Working Together for the Future
How can we ensure that Southeast Friesland remains a great place to live and work twenty years from now? On Thursday, September 10, government agencies, businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations came together to discuss this issue. The meeting in Drachten marked the launch of the National Program for Vital Regions (NPVR) in Southeast Friesland.
Southeast Friesland is one of the eleven regions in the Netherlands participating in the National Program for Vital Regions. Within this program, the national government and the region are working together to shape the future. One of the reasons for this initiative is the national report titled “Every Region Counts!” The report shows that not every region in the Netherlands has been given the same opportunities to develop.
A Strong Region Facing Challenges
Southeast Friesland has a strong economy, many innovative businesses, skilled craftsmanship, and vibrant villages and communities. At the same time, there are challenges. These include a shortage of suitable housing, an aging population, labor shortages, accessibility issues, and strained public services. Climate change also calls for different choices regarding our land, our water, and the available space. That is why the Southeast Friesland Regional Plan 2045 was created. It outlines where the region aims to be in twenty years. It covers eight topics: housing, landscape, health, public services, transportation, society, education, and the economy. Innovation is being used to find new solutions and strengthen existing initiatives.
Andries Bouwman, mayor of Opsterland, is the administrative leader of NPVR Zuidoost-Fryslân. “A great deal is already happening in Zuidoost-Fryslân. So we’re not starting from scratch. We want to better connect what’s already in place and work together to see where we can achieve more. With the Regional Plan, we’ve determined where we want to be by 2045. Now we’re going to work together on the next step.”
A Future That Can Grow
The kick-off event focused on the future of Southeast Friesland. Four regional artists presented their visions of the region in 2045. Their work marks the beginning of the Southeast Friesland 2045 Collection and will remain part of the program in the coming years. After the program at the Sluisfabriek, the participants went to Haven in Drachten. There, they worked together to plant greenery around the playground. This planting event symbolizes the collaboration: something that starts small and can continue to grow in the coming years. The goal is to eventually plant more of these “Regiobosjes” in various locations throughout Southeast Friesland.
From Vision to Implementation
The kick-off marks the start of the next phase. The Regioplan is a vision for 2045 and does not yet include detailed measures. In the coming period, we will determine what our first steps will be, who will take on which roles, how we will organize our collaboration, and how the plans will be funded. We will also further define what support is needed from the national government. In this way, the vision for Southeast Friesland will be translated, step by step, into concrete plans.
