Meerstad
Planned town
Welcome to Meerstad (2014)
Welcome to Meerstad (2014)
Meerstad is located in Groningen (province)
Meerstad
Meerstad
Location in province of Groningen in the Netherlands
Meerstad is located in Netherlands
Meerstad
Meerstad
Meerstad (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 53°13′21″N 6°39′11″E / 53.2224°N 6.6531°E / 53.2224; 6.6531
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceGroningen
MunicipalityGroningen
Established2007
Area
[1]
 • Total17.76 km2 (6.86 sq mi)
Elevation
[2]
−1 m (−3 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total2,595
 • Density150/km2 (380/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
9613[1][lower-alpha 1]
Dialing code050
Websitemeerstad.eu

Meerstad is a planned town in the Dutch province of Groningen. It started in 2007 as part of the municipality of Slochteren, but was transferred to the city of Groningen in 2017. The original plan was to built 10,000 houses for 30,000 people by 2026, but has been revised to 6,000 houses by 2035.

History

In March 2005, the municipal council of Slochteren approved the master plan of Meerstad.[4] The name is a combination of meer (lake) and stad (city), and was planned to become a suburban planned town with 10,000 houses for 30,000 people by 2026.[5] The town would be built on a 2,300 hectares (5,700 acres) area,[3] and would cater to middle income families.[6] In 2006, the construction of the central lake started,[7] and in 2008, the first houses were built.[3] Slochteren would be responsible, however it would be built in corporation with the city of Groningen.[3]

The initial plans were too optimistic. In 2010, there were supposed to be 3,000 houses in Meerstad, but in 2014, less than 200 had been built.[8] The numbers were revised down to 6,000 houses by 2035.[3] In 2011, there were rumours that Slochteren wanted to transfer ownership to the city of Groningen, however both municipalities neither confirmed nor denied the rumours.[9] In 2015, it was announced that Meerstad would be transferred to the city of Groningen effective 1 January 2017.[10] The villages of Harkstede and Lageland which were located within the Meerstad project would remain in Slochteren.[11]

In 2021, the losses on the Meerstad project were in excess of €100 million,[8] and the population was 2,595 people.[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ The actual postcodes for Meerstad are much more chaotic. See reference.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "Postcodetool for 9356AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Meerstad". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Meerstad in vogelvlucht". Toekomst Meerstad (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  5. ↑ Boersma 2005, pp. 3, 5.
  6. ↑ Boersma 2005, p. 3.
  7. ↑ Boersma 2005, p. 5.
  8. 1 2 "Meerstad". Socialist Party (in Dutch). 4 February 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  9. ↑ André Huitenga (19 September 2011). "Groningen wil Meerstad inlijven". Oog TV (in Dutch).
  10. ↑ "Grenscorrectie: Meerstad bij Groningen". Nieuws.nl (in Dutch). 15 October 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "Meerstad wordt helemaal Stad" (in Dutch). 14 October 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2022.

Bibliography

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