Anyone who, as a resident of Oldambt, still does not know what the 33 million euros from the Groningen National Program (NPG) is being spent on has missed an opportunity. An insight was given on Saturday at the first Toekomst Voor Oldambt Festival.
A large cart at the entrance of the former straw cardboard factory De Toekomst states in large letters: ‘Oldambt Heats’ . A slogan that indicates how tenants and homeowners can save energy. But once in the decorated hall with stands and seats, it becomes really clear how you can save energy. The stove at zero.
Crossing point of the Eleven Cities Tour
In an ice-cold ambiance, the Festival is reminiscent of a crossing point of the Eleven Cities Tour. If street band De Klinkers also produces a number of sing-along songs, there is a real winter atmosphere. Mayor Cora-Yfke Sikkema of the municipality of Oldambt even talks about something Christmas-like.
In the meantime, security guards have seriously underestimated the working conditions. They are wearing a wafer-thin blouse and ditto jacket. So heating up in the meantime with the pellet stove is not an unnecessary luxury. But fortunately most visitors are made of good stuff. Provided with hats and gloves, it is bearable.
Sikkema once again explains what the 33 million NPG money for Oldambt is intended for. “More is needed to give Groningen a good future. The Groningen National Program was created to realize this ‘more’. The aim of our local program is to improve our prosperity and ensure a sustainable future.”
Ten projects were shown at the festival. “I hope that people have not only come to find out more about these initiatives that have been initiated in Oldambt, but we also want to listen to the ideas of the residents.” For this input, a meter-wide wall had been erected, the so-called Wish Wall, where everyone could leave a wish or idea. As it is written in large letters: ‘more forest’, ‘preserve the vast landscape’, ‘more homes’, ‘tackle the center of Scheemda’ and so on.
What does Oldambt do?
What are we doing in Oldambt?, she repeats the question. She mentions a number of projects: “We enrich the school day at a number of primary schools with extra activities for sports, culture and career orientation. Child poverty is tackled with Toukomst buddies and preventive measures. We encourage reading and reading aloud with projects such as ‘Library at school’ and ‘Read Aloud Express’ and in the city center of Winschoten we are working on a future-proof center with projects such as the incentive fund and the Digital center.”
Erwin Vening is program manager for the implementation of the projects and the associated millions. “He has been working on this since 2019, but we are still building up, because two corona years have stood in our way.” He calculates that 21 million euros has now been invested in various projects in five years. But his eye already extends further. The ten Groningen and three Drenthe municipalities can expect approximately 22 billion from the government over the next thirty years.
Or as Sikkema says: “More is needed for the recovery and prospects of our region. The government has announced an extensive package of measures to this end, which largely – and rightly so – concerns damage repair and reinforcement. But also with plans for sustainability, a social agenda and an economic agenda. Of Nij Begun the government wants to invest in Groningen for 30 years. Plans will be developed for this in the coming year and we are of course curious about the ideas from the population.”
Make grateful use of NPG money
Anyone who makes ‘grateful’ use of the NPG funds is SO! Groningen. An organization that focuses on drawing attention to and promoting tourist attractions. LIKE THIS! Groningen does this for Oldambt, Westerwolde, Pekela, Stadskanaal and Veendam.
The organization receives €100,000 annually from NPG, the municipalities contribute €1,500,000 and director Edwin van der Woude hopes that entrepreneurs will also contribute €50,000 annually. “We have been working together for two years now and our effectiveness has increased and we can do more in promotion. For example, we publish a magazine every year as well as many cycling and walking maps.”
This information is eagerly sought after by the residents of Oldambt on Saturday. “They often leave with a bag of stuff. And they immediately say: how beautiful it is here in their own region. We don’t have to go far. It’s beautiful here. So that’s good advertising.”
Displays with tourist information at three hundred entrepreneurs
East Groningen was an interesting region to visit, especially during the corona years, because traveling abroad was on the back burner. “Can we hold on to that?” Van der Woude has doubts. Research has shown that many Dutch people have resumed the old pattern. This means: traveling abroad. “That is why we are now setting up displays with tourist information at many entrepreneurs, two to three hundred. Because there are no more tourist offices in the region.”
But if Van der Woude can express a wish. “East Groningen would benefit from another beautiful bungalow park in terms of tourism. I once sounded out Landel, but they don’t like it here. So we just have to rely on local entrepreneurs who dare to do it.”