Flevoland Province Administrator Jan de Reus on Lelylijn

Jan de Reus is a deputy of Flevoland province. His portfolio includes spatial planning, housing, mobility, public transportation and infrastructure. De Reus is a member of the steering committee Lelylijn.

What can Lelylijn mean for your province?
“In Flevoland we want to make a substantial contribution to the housing task in the Netherlands. This is not just about growth, more important is the improvement of general welfare. Residents should be able to enjoy living, working and recreation here. In addition, accessibility with the rest of the Netherlands is important. I expect that the Lelylijn will have a positive influence on this. The railroad will bring the Randstad and a city like Groningen closer together”.

Does Flevoland need more and different public transportation?
“In the Northeast Polder, a rural area with a low population density, current public transport by bus is not always efficient. Therefore, we are looking for other public transportation options, with the train playing an important role in connecting to the rest of the Netherlands. In addition, demand-oriented transportation can open up the more rural areas of Flevoland.

De Lelylijn can only start running if the rail bottlenecks between Almere and Amsterdam are solved. After all, the railroad near Almere will be completely full in a few years. As far as I am concerned, the Lelylijn is also inextricably linked to the realization of the IJmeer connection.”

How do you see your role within the steering committee Lelylijn?
“I represent the interests of Flevoland. I am in favor of the Lelylijn and as Flevoland we think it is important that the trains will soon stop in Emmeloord and Lelystad. The province of Flevoland has ambitious plans for housing construction, with more than 100,000 new homes, mainly in Almere and Lelystad, but also in the Northeast Polder and Urk. This expansion is only feasible if the accessibility of these areas improves. De Lelylijn plays a crucial role in this.”

How do you involve your constituency at Lelylijn?
“It is important that everyone inside and outside the project can know what is going on. The project team Lelylijn organizes several meetings and sessions. In addition, more visibility on social media, for example, can help well.”

“In my various roles, I come into contact with diverse interests. Flevoland occupies a central position between Amsterdam – Zwolle and the Northern Netherlands. That means I sit at different tables. For example, I participate in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA), the Zwolle Region and the Delta Plan for the Northern Netherlands and I take part in the MIRT consultations with the state. These regions differ, but all see the need to improve the region’s accessibility. My various roles put me on the cutting edge of several regional priorities. Everyone expects me to express a preference; is Zwolle most important, or the Northern Netherlands, or the MRA? There are many interests at play and it is an art to deal with them and find a balance.”