“The Safety Campus is a very nice initiative by secondary vocational education, higher professional education and the university,” says Rasker, who in the summer of 2024 quickly set his eyes on the Johan Willem Friso Barracks, which was to become an important place for both the armed forces and the region. The deal was concluded within a week, but due to the new approach from Defense, this can now be canceled after all.
Yet it should come as no surprise that, now that war has reignited in Eastern Europe after thirty years, Defense is once again in Assen. Especially now that NATO countries have agreed to increase their defense expenditure to 5 percent of their gross domestic product by 2030. “The situation in the world requires a strong armed forces and more space is needed for Defense,” the ministry, the municipality of Assen and the province of Drenthe said yesterday.
As a result, the Safety Campus will have to make way, although Rasker is not sad about that. “We have room for that on the Industrieweg, if necessary, the courses can remain there for five years,” he assures. “And in the meantime, we will discuss with them and Defense whether we can find a better place in Assen for a permanent location.”
Now that the Safety Campus at the Johan Willem Friso Barracks has been completed, this does not mean that Assen is abandoning its ambitions as a student city. On the contrary, because the students who will soon have lessons at the Industrieweg can still stay in the barracks. “There is room for that, and that means that there is little room for education and training purposes for the rest of the campus,” Rasker explains.
There will soon be room in the barracks for the arrival of National Resilience Training and an anti-drone uniskin. Rasker: “That amounts to 1,000 students per year and approximately 200 jobs. So this vibrant student city comes one step closer every year.”