Councilman Evert Stellingwerf of Leeuwarden municipality on the Lelylijn

Evert Stellingwerf has been alderman of the municipality of Leeuwarden since 2022, with mobility, energy and sustainable development in his portfolio. Evert studied technical planning in Groningen during the period when the Zuiderzeelijn was shelved. In his work as a planner and as a city council member, he gained a lot of experience with issues in the physical living environment with a focus on urban planning, traffic, environment and energy. Stellingwerf is a member of the steering committee Lelylijn.

What do you think the Lelylijn can do? What opportunities and possibilities do you see for Leeuwarden and for the region?
“De Lelylijn is of great importance to Leeuwarden and the region because it provides a faster and more robust connection to other parts of the country. All trains now have to go through the vulnerable “bottle neck” at Meppel. For the north, the labor market is a major challenge in the future. Especially in the area around Leeuwarden. There are not enough people available to fill all vacancies and this will only increase in the future. Therefore it is important that we ‘stretch’ the borders of our labor market and ensure better connections in the north and with the rest of the country.

Leeuwarden is home to many companies and knowledge institutions that belong to the (inter)national top. A transfer-free connection with a terminus in Leeuwarden ensures that the innovation ecosystem around water technology and food technology becomes better connected with other innovation clusters. This leads to more exchange and development of new knowledge.

Conversely, improved connectivity is also of national importance. Leeuwarden offers substantial opportunities for new housing construction. Through infill development and expansion, we are building about 6,000 housing units through 2030. In the period 2031-2050, there is potential for 10,000 to 20,000 housing units near several train stations.”

What challenges do you think the Lelylijn brings?
“A good integration into the landscape is of great importance for Friesland’s broad prosperity. The soil and water system is also an important consideration. In addition, decisions will have to be made on where a station can and cannot be built. There is an area of tension between rapid access and the choice of multiple stations. “The Lelylijn will create better access to Leeuwarden and the surrounding region. The underlying public transport network can also receive a boost as a result and must be properly considered in the overall picture.”

If you could give the De Lelylijn project organization one tip, what would it be?
“Stay committed to engaging the public and stakeholders as plans move forward.”