Groningen Forms New Coalition Agreement — What You Need to Know
BBB, PvdA, GroenLinks, and VVD form new provincial government with six deputies, with a focus on collaboration and growth.
Groningen’s new coalition agreement, titled ‘Mit Mekoar’ (With Each Other), was officially presented at the Provincial House, marking a new phase for the province’s leadership. The BBB, PvdA, GroenLinks, and VVD have come together to form the provincial government after the previous coalition collapsed in September 2024 over a wind farm debate. The newly established coalition agreement lays out priorities for economic development, infrastructure, housing, and energy policy, with a strong focus on collaboration and stability.
Key Priorities in the ‘Mit Mekoar’ Agreement
The coalition’s vision is centered on two key principles:
Governance through collaboration rather than political rivalry.
Providing direction and stability for Groningen’s residents, businesses, and institutions.
Key areas of focus include:
Economic Growth & Entrepreneurship: Encouraging business development while prioritising sustainability in agriculture, fisheries, and industry.
Infrastructure & Housing: Expanding housing in rural areas while maintaining the province’s unique landscape. Improving road networks, advancing the Nedersaksenlijn and Lelylijn railway projects, and enhancing the cycling infrastructure.
Energy & Environment: Phasing out gas extraction from small fields and strengthening climate adaptation efforts.
Sports & Recreation: Evaluating a new ice rink at Kardinge, pending a viable municipal plan.
New Provincial Leadership & Portfolios
The coalition government will include six deputies, an increase from the previous five. Only Susan Top (Independent) remains from the former administration, continuing her oversight of the gas dossier. The new provincial executive team is as follows:
BBB: Gouke Moes & Leo Wenneger – Agriculture, Energy
GroenLinks: Karin Dekker – Finance, Environment, Climate Adaptation
VVD: Erik Jan Bennema – Economy, Mobility
PvdA: Pascal Roemers – Housing, Labor Market, Spatial Planning
The new deputies will be officially installed on March 19 during an extraordinary session of the Provincial States.
Political Landscape & National Context
The coalition agreement comes amid shifting political dynamics in the Netherlands. While the GroenLinks-PvdA alliance has gained over 10,000 members in the past year, mainstream parties such as the VVD and BBB have seen declines in membership. These changes reflect broader national trends as parties realign ahead of future elections.