The ‘Agenda voor de Veenkoloniën’ is a collaboration between nine Dutch municipalities, two water boards and two provinces. The Agenda is about the future of the Veenkoloniën (Fen Colonies).
In 2001 the Hoekstra commission investigated the problems in the Veenkoloniën (Fen Colonies) and concluded that there were three of them: one-sidedness, dependence and a negative image. The document ‘The Agenda’ is the region’s answer to the commission’s recommendations. It is a shared vision for our region’s present and future. This Agenda contains a list of ten steps, called the ten Agenda Items, which contribute to making living and working in the Veenkoloniën (Fen Colonies) worthwhile, now and in the future. In combining these points under the banner of the Agenda, the parties working together are joining forces. We’re looking over the boundaries. After all, together we’re strong(er)!
The ‘Agenda voor de Veenkoloniën’ rests upon three components: one social, one economic and one spatial component. The focuses of the social component include increasing the average level of education in the Veenkoloniën (Fen Colonies), creating more and more types of work, a better fit between schooling and work, the expansion of healthcare facilities and improvement of housing conditions. Projects within the economic component are primarily focussed on achieving more varied activity to broaden the economic foundation. This may consist for example of revitalising existing businesses and offering space for new activities and employment opportunities, but also of modernisation and diversification in the agricultural sector. And not to be forgotten, making the region as accessible as possible, both physically and digitally. The landscape, nature and the history of the fen are parts of the spatial component. Making increased and better use of these trump cards will make the region attractive for inhabitants and tourists and will contribute to strengthening the economy and improving the image.
Objective
The objective is to preserve and boost the inhabitants' quality of life. There are many points which can be tackled to achieve this. The ten Agenda Items we mentioned were selected because they have a good chance of succeeding and make a substantial contribution to resolving sticking points.
