Why is Holland Casino establishing itself in Drenthe, and why right next to the A7?

It is truly the furthest corner of Drenthe where Holland Casino Groningen wants to open its doors in 2027. If the schedule is met, it will have taken exactly ten years to find a new location for the casino. The building on Gedempte Kattendiep in the city went up in flames in August 2017.

Not only away from the city center of Groningen, but also away from the province

After the devastating fire, together with the municipality of Groningen, we searched for years for a temporary location and then a permanent location. The municipality of Groningen initially wanted the casino to remain in the city center. Holland Casino wanted to move out of the city center because of accessibility and sufficient parking space. A temporary place was found at Sontplein, along Europaweg.

More than a dozen locations have been reviewed in recent years. One of them was very popular with both the municipality and the casino: the corner of the Sontplein, where the Van der Molen garage once was, and now Daka Sport. The owner of the land simply did not want to cooperate in a sale.

This left two places at the end of the ride: Business Park Ter Borch and P2 at the Europapark, right next to the Euroborg. Since the end of last year, Holland Casino has been in discussions with Tynaarlo about Ter Borch. The casino is now leaving not only the Groningen city center, but even the province by choosing Ter Borch.

Own building, no tenant in an existing building

A place in Drenthe that is easily accessible from Friesland via the A7. This also applies from the direction of Winschoten, as people are expected to use the renovated southern ring road of Groningen without any problems.

Accessibility and parking were important, but also easy to achieve at the Europapark. “The decisive factor,” says De Ruiter, “is that we can design, build and furnish our own building in Ter Borch, the way we want. We became a tenant in a multifunctional building at the Europapark.”

‘We understand that Groningen is disappointed’

For the municipality of Groningen, the grapes must be slightly sour. The municipality and casino worked together for years. Holland Casino is now purchasing land in another municipality. Groningen would like to build on the old casino site on the Kattendiep.

But for that, the City has to put in the money. The parking garage under the former casino belonged to the municipality, but the land belongs to Holland Casino.

De Ruiter says that it is logical that Groningen, after years of working together, is disappointed in the current state of affairs. “But I also think there is relief. Groningen would like to develop on the Kattendiep. We wish the municipality every cooperation in developing something beautiful at this location.”

Groningen must be able to develop quickly

De Ruiter does not say exactly what that cooperation should look like. “We obviously want to sell the land and will quickly enter into discussions with the municipality to do so. If it were up to us, Groningen would soon have the freedom to get started here.”