Groningen Invites Residents to Shape the City of 2050
“We’re building the Groningen of tomorrow—together. So please join the conversation and help us shape a green, healthy, and liveable city for 2050.”
The municipality of Groningen has launched an initiative inviting residents, entrepreneurs, and organisations to help shape the future of the city through a new environmental vision. This long-term plan, titled Groningen in 2050, will guide decisions on housing, green spaces, mobility, energy, climate adaptation, and inclusivity over the coming decades.
“We’re making important choices that affect everyone’s living environment,” says Alderman Rik van Niejenhuis. “Because space is limited and the population is growing, we have to decide carefully how we build, move, and live together. And who better to help us do that than our residents, who know the city best?”
Public Participation Begins
As of today, people in Groningen can contribute their ideas and opinions by filling out a short online survey here. Later this year, several public meetings will offer more in-depth opportunities to engage:
August: The Noorderzon Festival will feature special sessions on urban development organised by Platform Gras.
September: A series of conversations under the title Groninger Gesprekken will be held in both the city and surrounding villages to gather input directly from local communities.
Timeline and Next Steps
The input gathered from the survey and meetings will inform a draft policy document outlining the major themes and choices for the environmental vision. This will be presented at the Let’s Gro future festival in November 2025. After that, the plan will be further refined and submitted to the new municipal council following the upcoming elections.
Van Niejenhuis emphasises the importance of public involvement: “We’re building the Groningen of tomorrow—together. So please join the conversation and help us shape a green, healthy, and liveable city for 2050.”