Director Johan Hamster of Groningen Province on the Lelylijn

Johan Hamster was born and raised in Stadskanaal, studied philosophy and was an alderman in Stadskanaal for more than 10 years. Since January 2022, he has been a deputy with the province of Groningen with Mobility, Energy, Climate and Water in his portfolio. Hamster is a member of the Steering Committee Lelylijn.

What can Lelylijn do for your province?
“De Lelylijn is not an end in itself. Like the Lower Saxony Line and improvement of existing rail, the Lelylijn is needed to realize the Northern Netherlands Delta Plan. And thereby strengthen the region’s broad prosperity. For the province of Groningen, it means that these three connections are crucial and, in conjunction, provide the necessary scale leap in the accessibility of the Northern Netherlands and thus also our province.

By strengthening broad prosperity, we address socioeconomic challenges. A mobility network with optimal connections between national, regional and local connections is very important in this. In this way, we can reduce transportation poverty and socioeconomic inequality, and preserve amenities and talented young people in our villages and cores. Broad prosperity in Groningen also means preserving and strengthening the high quality of our living environment and our own local identity for future generations. De Lelylijn As a measure from the Delta Plan, it ties in well with the development of Nij Begun, for example, in the National Program Groningen and the Social Agenda.

De Lelylijn is relevant not only regionally and nationally, but also internationally. With the Wunderline, we are taking an important step in this direction together with Germany. With the Lelylijn, further upgrading this international connection is a step closer.”

Is there currently a need for more or different public transportation in your county?
“Looking at the social tasks, good public transportation is important. As a province we are on the bar to create a solid backbone for this system; within the province, but also in the connections regionally, nationally and internationally. De Lelylijn is, like the existing railroad and the Lower Saxony line, part of this (necessary) backbone.

What is your role in project the Lelylijn?
“Within the Lelylijn project, regional governments are working closely with the national government. Even though we are still very early in the process, all voices in the region are being listened to, the input is being weighed up, taken into account and processed. Through the consultation process (PWE), even the Dutch population has already been asked to participate. And with the results, among other things, the objectives of the project have been sharpened. We also have good contact as administrators about content, lobbying and coordination about the Lelylijn but also about the Delta Plan.”

How are you involving your constituents in this project?
“Over the next few months, the project team is working toward a final result that we will discuss at the Administrative Consultation on the Multiyear Infrastructure, Space and Transport Program (BO MIRT) in November. I think it is important that our Provincial Councils, as well as the colleges and municipal councils, are properly included. The project team Lelylijn is organizing informative meetings in the region for this purpose.”