{"id":13875,"date":"2026-08-21T14:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T12:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.icdrachten.nl\/?p=13875"},"modified":"2026-08-21T14:54:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T12:54:29","slug":"d66-fractie-bezoekt-drachten-hightech-bereikbaarheid-en-brede-welvaart-centraal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.icdrachten.nl\/en\/nieuws\/d66-fractie-bezoekt-drachten-hightech-bereikbaarheid-en-brede-welvaart-centraal\/","title":{"rendered":"D66 parliamentary group visits Drachten: high-tech, accessibility, and broad prosperity take center stage"},"content":{"rendered":"

On August 20, a delegation of the\u00a0D66<\/a>-party group a working visit to Drachten. Central were the economic development of Northern Netherlands, the position of Drachten as a high-tech region and the opportunities that the Lelylijn offers for accessibility, innovation and broad prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"D66<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Innovatiecluster Drachten as an example of regional cooperation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During the meeting, [he\/she\/they] gave\u00a0Joost Krebbekx<\/a>, program manager of the ICD, a presentation on the significance of the innovative manufacturing industry for the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The affiliated ICD companies operate worldwide. Therefore, they are heavily dependent on good national and international connections. In addition, Joost explained how the ICD brings together companies, educational institutions, and governments. In this way, the cluster stimulates innovation, talent development, and sustainable economic growth from a structured ecosystem approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ICD is increasingly cited as an example of successful regional cooperation within the Dutch high-tech sector. This position was also [by]\u00a0Rob Jetten<\/a>\u00a0emphasized during a broadcast <\/a>by<\/a>\u00a0Nieuwsuur<\/em>\u00a0in October 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"D66<\/a>
D66 visits ICD, from left to right: Henk Jan Oosterhuis<\/a>, Marieke Vellinga-Beemsterboer<\/a> and Robin van <\/a>Leijen<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lelylijn offers opportunities for Drachten and Northern Netherlands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During the discussions with the D66 delegation, the relationship between economic development and accessibility was explicitly addressed. In this context, the Lelylijn was discussed as a strategic investment for the whole of the Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new connection can not only shorten travel times between the Northern Netherlands and Schiphol, but the Lelylijn can also increase the appeal of Drachten and the surrounding region for businesses, knowledge institutions, and talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the important connection that the Lelylijn creates with Southeast Friesland was highlighted, which is the third fastest-growing economic region in the Netherlands, and has been for three consecutive years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The eastern function of the line towards Groningen was also discussed. The presence of STEM talent at the\u00a0University of Groningen<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Hanze University<\/a>, along with future developments such as the\u00a0national AI Factory<\/a>, makes visible what opportunities a better connection can offer for knowledge exchange, innovation, and labor market development. For several attendees, this provided a new and valuable perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innovative manufacturing industry visible at Philips Drachten<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During the working visit, the delegation also visited\u00a0Philips Drachten,<\/a> the largest robotized factory in the Netherlands. This visit immediately made the innovative power of the Northern Netherlands visible. Those present expressed their appreciation for the entrepreneurship, technological expertise, and strong cooperation within the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The working visit thus underlined that investments in accessibility and innovation ecosystems are crucial to keeping both the northern and the Dutch economy future-proof. For the ICD, the visit also demonstrates the importance of further strengthening the connection between high-tech companies, education, government, and accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"D66<\/a>
D66 delegation is put to work at Philips: Henk Jan Oosterhuis<\/a>, Marieke Vellinga-Beemsterboer<\/a> and Robin van <\/a>Leijen<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On August 20, a delegation from the D66 parliamentary group paid a working visit to Drachten. The focus was on the economic development of the Northern Netherlands, the position of Drachten as a high-tech region, and the opportunities that the Lelylijn offers for accessibility, innovation, and broad prosperity. Innovatiecluster Drachten as an example of regional cooperation During the meeting, Joost Krebbekx, program manager of the ICD, gave a presentation on the significance of the innovative manufacturing industry...<\/p>","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":13877,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[61,131,75,49,28,48],"class_list":["post-13875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nieuws","tag-bedrijfsleven","tag-hanze-hogeschool","tag-high-tech","tag-hightech","tag-innovatie","tag-rijksuniversiteit-groningen"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nD66 bezoekt ICD<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"D66-fractie bezoekt Drachten: hightech, bereikbaarheid en brede welvaart centraal\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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