The Dutch and Flemish governments, the North Sea Port authority and its eight shareholders (BGTS North Sea Port District) have joined forces to further develop the cross-border region around the port.
On Tuesday 1 April, the parties signed a strategic memorandum expressing their intention to enter into a long-term partnership. The governments of Flanders and the Netherlands did so at the seventh edition of the Flemish-Dutch Summit in Ghent. The shareholders of North Sea Port – gathered in the BGTS North Sea Port District – had a festive moment in the evening to celebrate this milestone, namely the municipalities of Vlissingen, Borsele and Terneuzen, the province of Zeeland, the city of Ghent, the municipalities of Evergem and Zelzate, and the province of East Flanders.
This strategic memorandum aims to formalise and structure the existing cooperation between these parties into a decisive, implementation-oriented organisation. This will promote the efficient development of the port and its immediate surroundings. The challenges and opportunities in the North Sea Port District do not stop at the national border. Through joint efforts and an integrated approach, the parties involved want to develop the area into a sustainable, liveable and future-proof economic growth region of European importance.
"This strategic memorandum is an important step in cross-border cooperation and will contribute to a sustainable and liveable future for the North Sea Port District."
"The Netherlands and Flanders are collaborating to make the North Sea Port District – from Vlissingen to Ghent – stronger, more sustainable, and more accessible. These projects will improve the economy, transport, and environment in this important port area."
"Residents and entrepreneurs in the North Sea Port District have clearly indicated what they want. It is a beautiful area, where entrepreneurs have space and residents enjoy living. But that's not all, because there are also questions about nuisance, there are wishes for more space for the economy, more people are looking for a home there, and people would also like to see developments in the cultural field. With this implementation agenda, we are working on concrete answers to these questions."
The key projects form the core of cross-border cooperation and focus on improvements for residents, businesses and the living environment.
Within seven priority key projects, cross-border efforts will be made to tackle the housing challenge and find an efficient approach to the various aspects of the housing problem that affects both sides of the border. Work is also being done to improve accessibility within the cross-border port area for businesses, residents and employees alike. The possibilities for a fast bus connection between Ghent and Terneuzen/Goes are being explored, and work will also be done on rail transport. For the municipality of Zelzate, where many infrastructural developments are coming together, a joint effort will be made to see how the various construction sites can be coordinated so that the quality of life in Zelzate is guaranteed as much as possible.
A fifth priority key project will address water issues. Sufficient (fresh) water is vital for drinking water, agriculture, industry and shipping.
In the context of the necessary energy transition, efforts will also be made to realise a cross-border hydrogen network.
With the final, seventh key project, the partners are looking at space for energy and the economy in the port. North Sea Port forms the economic heart of the district. The port plays a key role in the energy transition, multimodality and the landing of offshore wind energy. At the same time, space is needed to enable these developments and maintain the port's leading position in Europe. The collaborating parties will jointly map out the spatial impact of these issues and develop integrated solutions.
"We are supporting this strategy for the NSPD as part of the Flemish Environmental Policy. This year, we will start the planning process for optimising access in and around Zelzate. This should optimise traffic flow and multimodal connections to the Netherlands. We will facilitate the further development of the NSPD's actions through a regional approach."
“This agenda marks the next step in the unique cross-border cooperation in our Dutch-Flemish port region. Together with our eight shareholders and the national governments of Flanders and the Netherlands, we are building a seaport of European importance. North Sea Port remains committed to a strong, nationally and regionally anchored port economy that contributes to a liveable environment. Our joint approach to the major spatial challenges in the border region is a powerful example of European cooperation.”
The signing of the strategic memorandum is a milestone in the cooperation between Flanders and the Netherlands and underlines the importance of a joint approach for a sustainable future for the North Sea Port District. An NSPD Implementation Agency will be set up in which all parties involved will work together to realise the key projects. With this joint approach, Flanders and the Netherlands are taking an important step towards a sustainable future for the North Sea Port District.
The District, with the North Sea Port area as its backbone, stretches across cities and canal villages, nature and agricultural areas, from Ghent, Evergem, Zelzate and Terneuzen to the other side of the Western Scheldt, where Vlissingen and Borsele are located. The District is an economic growth region with a strong international seaport and an important industrial cluster.
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