Wind in de Zeilen is a coherent package of measures to improve the socio-economic position and improve the business climate in Vlissingen and Zeeland. The package serves as compensation for canceling the move of the marine barracks to Vlissingen. It will be implemented on the basis of the administrative agreement between the government, the province of Zeeland, the municipality Vlissingen and the Waterschap Scheldestromen made on June 26, 2020.
Wind in de Zeilen has € 651.9 million in funds to realize various projects in Zeeland. For example, a better train connection between Zeeland and the Randstad will be established. A Delta Knowledge Center, in which UCR takes part, is being set up in Vlissingen, focusing on the unique Zeeland combination of water, food and energy. Furthermore, three health centers are also being realized and there will be a so-called Law Delta in Vlissingen with a high-security location for a court, and a secure location to work and stay overnight. There will also be an extra secure penitentiary facility, with in addition, a strategic knowledge center against organized and subversive crime.
The first results of Wind in de Zeilen have already been achieved. For example, the cabinet paid a total of almost €21 million to the municipality of Vlissingen, the province of Zeeland and Waterschap Scheldestromen as compensation for the costs of preparations made for the construction of the marine barracks in Vlissingen. Furthermore, the cabinet will also invest in the Zeeland Investment Fund until 2023. With this extra investment of €20 million, Zeeland will have more opportunities to attract innovative companies and to invest in promising spin-offs of the soon to be established Delta Knowledge Center.
This Delta Knowledge Center project has now started. Two quartermasters have been appointed for this: Louis de Quelerij (former professor of Civil Engineering and dean at TU Delft) and Pieter van Geel (Chairman of the Supervisory Board of North Sea Port, former State Secretary of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment). They will start laying out plans on December 1, 2020.
In addition, the strategic knowledge center against organized and subversive crime will be opening its doors in Vlissingen in mid-January 2021. The knowledge center offers partners in the approach against undermining law a better picture of trends and developments in order to be able to counteract them more effectively.
Finally, PricewaterhouseCoopers conducted an investigation into the separation of the drinking water company Evides from the Provinciale Zeeuwse Energie Maatschappij (PZEM). In doing so, the bureau looked at the advantages and disadvantages of the split-off with special attention for the financial and legal consequences. Together with an advice yet to be drawn up, this research forms a building block for administrative decision-making about the split-off of Evides in January 2021.
Siebe Riedstra will publish the next progress report on Wind in the Zeilen in mid-2021. In the meantime, the national government, the province of Zeeland and the municipality of Vlissingen will continue to work closely together to strengthen the region.
The first progress report can be downloaded here.