The Province of Limburg and VDL Groep announced that they are investing €25M to promote innovation, create jobs, and improve the quality of life around the VDL site in Born.

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Out of the total, VDL is contributing €10M, while the Province is proposing to allocate €15M for future development.

The €15M proposed by the Provincial Executive for developments around the VDL site in Born comes from the leftover budget of the previous ‘Area Development VDL Nedcar’ program.

Stephan Satijn, Provincial Executive Member for Economy, Finance, Operations, and Public Affairs, says, “The development of the VDL site in Born is crucial to the Limburg economy. It’s encouraging that VDL is committed to developing plans for this site that fully utilise its potential. The planned production of military equipment on part of the site aligns seamlessly with the Limburg Defence Agenda. Together with the Ministry of Defence, we are exploring opportunities in our province to meet the defence challenge. With VDL, we are taking steps forward to accommodate defence activities and simultaneously working on an innovative Limburg manufacturing industry that strengthens our regional economy and is indispensable to the Netherlands.”

As part of this investment, €5M will be directed toward nature development and quality-of-life improvements in the surrounding municipalities of Echt-Susteren and Sittard-Geleen.

VDL Groep and the Province of Limburg have signed an agreement to explore new uses for the VDL site.

The goal is to jointly create space for a variety of (innovative) developments that offer opportunities for the VDL site, serving the interests of the Limburg economy and manufacturing industry, and further increasing employment.

VDL plans to focus on sustainable mobility, new battery and energy systems, high-tech manufacturing, and defence technologies, such as drones.

Termination of prior agreement (AO)

VDL Nedcar and the Province of Limburg have mutually terminated the 2020 Prior Agreement (AO) concerning the ‘VDL Nedcar Area Development’. 

Consequently, the plans for a bypass and a grade-separated intersection on the southern side of the industrial estate are on hold.

This termination does not affect the Municipality of Sittard-Geleen’s Environmental Plan.

Although the expansion of the VDL site has been cancelled, agreements on environmental compensation and quality of life funds with the municipalities of Sittard-Geleen and Echt-Susteren will proceed.

The Ministries of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure and Water Management have also committed funds for the 2019-2020 ‘VDL Area Development’ program. The province is working with these ministries to secure these funds for future developments at the VDL site in Born.

VDL Groep: International industrial family business

Based out of Eindhoven, VDL Groep is an international industrial company focused on the development and production of products, machines, components and total solutions for five different sectors: Science, Technology & Health, Mobility, Energy & Sustainability, Infratech and Foodtech.

Willem van der Leegte, President and CEO of VDL Groep, says, “We have always had confidence in the future of our site in Born. That’s why we continue to invest, both in Born and the surrounding area. This partnership with the Province of Limburg marks a powerful initiative that will transform our Born site into a sustainable, autonomous production facility for the national and European high-quality manufacturing industry, with a positive impact on employment and the economy. We are currently in discussions with the province about where these millions will be invested. The guiding principle is to stimulate innovation, employment, and the quality of life at the VDL site in Born and the surrounding area.”