Staphorst is now at the table when it comes to the port expansion of Meppel. That is the conclusion of a conversation between the aldermen. “Meppel was ahead of the music. We do not want people to talk about us, but with us,” said alderman Lucas Mulder van Staphorst.
Mulder therefore reacted with surprise and for that reason a coffee appointment was put on the agenda. “Very nice to catch up,” Mulder says now. “We are up to date again.”
According to Ten Hulscher, it is logical that Staphorst wants to remain involved from now on. “Even though they do not have a port, it is important to do this together. It is about us as a region and Staphorst is part of that. It is not Meppel against Staphorst, we want to work together. Alderman Mulder therefore has a valid point.”
Ten Hulscher wants to emphasize that Meppel’s role may be smaller than it sometimes seems. The port company Port of Zwolle was founded in 2015 as an umbrella organization behind the ports of Meppel, Zwolle and Kampen. Ten Hulscher sees it as a good option if the port authority presents itself as the buyer of the intended land. “Then the port authority itself is in charge and I think that is also appropriate. A real port company also has its own property.”
“This is about the long-term vision of us as a Zwolle region,” continues Ten Hulscher. “The port companies can make a major contribution to the economy. Of course we are keen on vulnerabilities. Ports are often close to nature reserves and you have to take that into account. If it is not possible, we will not do it. But we do want to look at it. of Zwolle is a very successful economic cooperation. We would hit our head if we didn’t look at possibilities.”
The land is in Staphorst, but not municipal property. Alderman Mulder is therefore not concerned with ownership. If the land were to come into the hands of the port authority, he would certainly want to do business with it. It may make things clearer, because it will never be Meppel territory. “We are not going to shift municipal or provincial boundaries. They are simply fixed,” says Mulder.