Frisian Urban Network
The municipalities of Heerenveen, Smallingerland, Súdwest-Fryslân and Leeuwarden (the F4) together form a Frisian urban network. This urban network is important for the region as well as for the Netherlands.
Network indispensable in the national government's Spatial Planning Policy Document
The four municipalities want to strengthen this Frisian urban network and consider the network indispensable in the national government’s Spatial Planning Policy Document. That is why they have set out the added value of the network and its significance for the Netherlands in a document. The administrators of the four municipalities are happy to engage in discussions with the national government, the province and other Frisian municipalities to further elaborate and implement their vision.
The added value of an Urban Network
The Fries Urban Network consists of Drachten, Heerenveen, Leeuwarden and Sneek (the F4). Together we have an indispensable function in Northern Netherlands on the themes of housing, the economy and broad prosperity. Our shared ambition is to make this network even stronger. The F4 are giving shape to this by drawing up a Frisian Urbanisation Strategy, in which the state and the province are expressly invited to join.
For Frisians
The Fries Urban Network can and will contribute even more to solving the regional and Dutch housing shortage. We offer starters and newly arrived Frisians a home in a green, healthy urban environment. The F4 can realize housing development on a large scale without sacrificing (too much) space for agriculture and nature.
Housing and economic developments in the F4 municipalities benefit all residents of Friesland. They actively contribute to the livability of the province and maintaining broad prosperity.
Focusing on economic sectors
The F4 municipalities benefit from many agglomeration advantages: a wider labour market, more potential and specialised suppliers, knowledge exchange and a wider range of jobs and amenities for residents. The F4 thus ensure that urban amenities are in close proximity to all Frisians. The F4 want to focus on economic sectors capable of supporting the important transitions. Examples include:
- making the food supply more sustainable;
- research and implementation of circular and bio-based construction;
- water technology and innovative healthcare technology.
The cohesion in amenities also enhances tourism potential. In addition to housing and economic cooperation, the F4 municipalities focus on developing campuses and strengthening secondary and higher (professional) education and the ‘University of the North’.
Significance for the Netherlands
The Netherlands faces the task of building about 1 million homes by 2031. The Frisian Urban Network is responsible for two-thirds of the Frisian housing task of about 21,000 homes. Another 1 million homes are needed nationwide for the period after 2031. Without the Lelyline, the F4 municipalities contribute to this with 3 to 4 large-scale housing sites with at least 15,000 housing units. With the arrival of the Lelyline, as many as 5 large-scale housing sites and a total of 25,000 homes are possible. A more extensive upscaling is conceivable, but the municipalities would like to discuss its significance in further discussions with the national government in the context of the Spatial Planning Policy Document, and hold talks on updating the Woondeal (housing deal) agreements and the Provincial Environmental Vision (POVI) with the other Frisian municipalities and Province of Friesland.
More information and contact
You can read more about the Frisian Urban Network in the Frisian Urban Network leaflet.
Do you want to know more, or have any questions or want to talk to the municipalities of the Frisian Urban Network? If so, contact the City of Leeuwarden or send an email to:
- Remco Deelstra via remco.deelstra@leeuwarden.nl.
- Jelmer Staal via j.staal@heerenveen.nl.
- Anco Hoen via a.hoen@smallingerland.nl.
- Richtsje van Kammen via r.vankammen@sudwestfryslan.nl.
Network indispensable in the national government's Spatial Planning Policy Document
The four municipalities want to strengthen this Frisian urban network and consider the network indispensable in the national government’s Spatial Planning Policy Document. That is why they have set out the added value of the network and its significance for the Netherlands in a document. The administrators of the four municipalities are happy to engage in discussions with the national government, the province and other Frisian municipalities to further elaborate and implement their vision.
The added value of an Urban Network
The Fries Urban Network consists of Drachten, Heerenveen, Leeuwarden and Sneek (the F4). Together we have an indispensable function in Northern Netherlands on the themes of housing, the economy and broad prosperity. Our shared ambition is to make this network even stronger. The F4 are giving shape to this by drawing up a Frisian Urbanisation Strategy, in which the state and the province are expressly invited to join.
For Frisians
The Fries Urban Network can and will contribute even more to solving the regional and Dutch housing shortage. We offer starters and newly arrived Frisians a home in a green, healthy urban environment. The F4 can realize housing development on a large scale without sacrificing (too much) space for agriculture and nature.
Housing and economic developments in the F4 municipalities benefit all residents of Friesland. They actively contribute to the livability of the province and maintaining broad prosperity.
Focusing on economic sectors
The F4 municipalities benefit from many agglomeration advantages: a wider labour market, more potential and specialised suppliers, knowledge exchange and a wider range of jobs and amenities for residents. The F4 thus ensure that urban amenities are in close proximity to all Frisians. The F4 want to focus on economic sectors capable of supporting the important transitions. Examples include:
- making the food supply more sustainable;
- research and implementation of circular and bio-based construction;
- water technology and innovative healthcare technology.
The cohesion in amenities also enhances tourism potential. In addition to housing and economic cooperation, the F4 municipalities focus on developing campuses and strengthening secondary and higher (professional) education and the ‘University of the North’.
Significance for the Netherlands
The Netherlands faces the task of building about 1 million homes by 2031. The Frisian Urban Network is responsible for two-thirds of the Frisian housing task of about 21,000 homes. Another 1 million homes are needed nationwide for the period after 2031. Without the Lelyline, the F4 municipalities contribute to this with 3 to 4 large-scale housing sites with at least 15,000 housing units. With the arrival of the Lelyline, as many as 5 large-scale housing sites and a total of 25,000 homes are possible. A more extensive upscaling is conceivable, but the municipalities would like to discuss its significance in further discussions with the national government in the context of the Spatial Planning Policy Document, and hold talks on updating the Woondeal (housing deal) agreements and the Provincial Environmental Vision (POVI) with the other Frisian municipalities and Province of Friesland.
More information and contact
You can read more about the Frisian Urban Network in the Frisian Urban Network leaflet.
Do you want to know more, or have any questions or want to talk to the municipalities of the Frisian Urban Network? If so, contact the City of Leeuwarden or send an email to:
- Remco Deelstra via remco.deelstra@leeuwarden.nl.
- Jelmer Staal via j.staal@heerenveen.nl.
- Anco Hoen via a.hoen@smallingerland.nl.
- Richtsje van Kammen via r.vankammen@sudwestfryslan.nl.