News item | 09-02-2024 | 2:30 PM
22 Regions will receive a total of 384.6 million euros extra from the government. They can use that money for plans that improve the lives, living and working of residents and entrepreneurs. The government makes the budget available through the so-called Regional Deals and the money is intended for places that could use an extra boost. In this way, the national government and the region are working together to build social security, quality of life and a sense of community.
The 22 selected proposals form a mix between rural areas, the urban environment, the Caribbean Netherlands and border regions. The proposals will be developed into full-fledged Regional Deals in the coming period. This is done in consultation with all parties involved: governments, entrepreneurs, social organizations and knowledge institutions.
Minister De Jonge of the Interior and Kingdom Relations: “For a small country like the Netherlands, the differences between regions are too great. While things will only go well in the Netherlands if things go well in every region. That is why we created the Regional Deals. In this way we work to ensure equal opportunities for good housing, living and working, wherever you live. From Groningen to Limburg, with the 22 deals designated today, regions can get started on those matters that are important to them. Such as education that is better suited to the local labor market, a healthier living environment or better accessibility.”
The selected proposals for Regional Deals with the available government contribution in millions:
- Het Hogeland € 12.1 million
- Region Centra Groningen € 20 million
- East Groningen € 12.5 million
- Groningen North €10 million
- Southwest Friesland €17.5 million
- Veluwe €20 million
- Achterhoek region €25 million
- Zwolle region €30 million
- Stedendriehoek region €20 million
- North Limburg region €10 million
- Central Limburg region €20 million
- West Brabant region €15 million
- Eindhoven Metropolitan Region €20 million
- North Holland North €32.5 million
- Amsterdam South East €20 million
- Amsterdam West Metropolitan Region €20 million
- Drechtsteden-Gorinchem € 25 million
- South Holland Delta € 10 million
- Waterway region €17.7 million
- Delft € 12.3 million
- Sint Eustatius (Caribbean Netherlands) €10 million
- Saba (Caribbean Netherlands) €5 million
How does a Regional Deal work?
When concluding a Regional Deal, the regions themselves come up with plans and ideas to tackle complex tasks. For example, to increase the quality of life in an area, to better match training with the labor market, or to make buildings and industrial estates more sustainable. The government will finance a maximum of half of the required investment. The government contribution is one-off and amounts to a minimum of €5 million and a maximum of €40 million.
When making the selection, the government looks at four aspects: the task (how large, urgent and complex); the approach (how integrally is the task tackled); the finances (which parties co-invest and how much); and the organization (how are regional authorities, residents and companies involved). In this fifth round, the government also looked at a balanced distribution across the Netherlands and previously concluded Regional Deals. The assessment always focused on whether the approach contributes to strengthening the broad prosperity of residents and entrepreneurs in the region in question.
€900 million for Regional Deals during this cabinet period
This is the fifth round of Regional Deals; A total of 44 Regional Deals have already started in four previous rounds. In the fifth round, 29 proposals were submitted, of which 22 proposals will be further developed. A sixth round is expected to follow later in 2024. This government has a total of €900 million available for the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.