Hoogeveen hopes to prevent a possible departure of insurer TVM from the municipality. Groups submitted a motion to the municipal council with the call to do everything possible to keep the company in the region. Mayor Karel Loohuis announced that they are already working on this.
“What you ask of us is in line with the commitment of the council,” Loohuis said. According to the mayor, the municipality is trying to convince the insurer to stay in the municipality. “Hoogeveen does this together with the province of Drenthe.”
TVM wants to say goodbye to the current building on Van Limburg Stirumstraat in Hoogeveen before 2030. The question is where the transport insurer will establish itself. The factions in Hoogeveen are afraid that the company is focusing on a place outside the municipal boundaries.
That’s how the name Zwolle goes around. But local politicians do not like the insurer’s departure from the region. “Hoogeveen and TVM are two strong brands that belong together,” said Stan van Eck of the PvdA. “A departure has a huge impact on the municipality and employment.” The company employs around 500 people.
According to Ronald Klok of the VVD, TVM is not only important for the municipality, but also for the logistics sector. “Hoogeveen is a logistics hub. A departure is not only bad for employment, but also for suppliers and the middle class.”
A few years ago, TVM also thought about leaving Hoogeveen for Zwolle. That was ultimately averted, because the municipality and the province came to terms with the company. “TVM must not forget that we have reached out for them,” says Brand van Rijn of the SGP.
Bert Otten from the CDA came up with a little history lesson. He said that TVM’s origins lie in Hoogeveen. “When it was still called TransVeMij. If you leave, you leave your roots. You shouldn’t want that.” Loohuis was pleased that the call in the motion was also addressed to TVM. “That makes it more powerful.”
The fact that TVM decided not to move to Zwolle a number of years ago is partly due to the arrival of the IT hub close to the station. The location should ensure that highly educated IT professionals stay in the region. The insurer could benefit from this.
Now the question is where the new headquarters will be located. In any case, the current building no longer meets today’s requirements. Another location in Hoogeveen is still a possibility. For example, the insurer has an option on a piece of land near the station.