Working with Eurocities
By joining forces with Eurocities, Cities Northern Netherlands is joining a movement of cities who want to have a voice in Europe and to have a say in decision-making processes. Eurocities can support us in this endeavor.
By being part of the network, they hope to gain access to concrete expertise, to gain knowledge, be able to build interesting European projects, get inspired, and make our voices better heard in Brussel. Additionally, through engagement with Eurocities they are sharing their own best practices and developing long-term partnerships with other cities.
What people need to know about the city
Cities Northern Netherlands is a partnership which includes the cities of Groningen, Leeuwarden, Assen and Emmen, all located in the most Northern part of the Netherlands. The cities represent the four main urban hubs in the region.
Together, they form a dynamic and complementary regional network with longstanding cooperation across various policy areas, including circular economy, innovation, sustainability, and European engagement. The cities are embedded in a rich ecosystem of knowledge and innovation, working closely with universities, universities of applied sciences, vocational education institutions, and SMEs across the region.
Cities Northern Netherlands has maintained a representation in Brussels since 2015 and established a representation in The Hague in 2026. See below more information on each of the four cities:
Groningen – City of talent
Groningen is a vibrant city of talent, knowledge, and innovation. As the sixth-largest city in the Netherlands, it is home to 244,000 people of 186 nationalities, with over 50% of its population under the age of thirty-five. The city hosts the fastest-growing campus in the country, making Groningen a natural hub for education, research, and entrepreneurship.
Groningen has been awarded the EU Cities Mission Label and is driving major societal transitions such as digitalisation, skills and human capital, and the green transition. The city is at the forefront of Europe’s shift to renewable energy, with internationally recognised expertise in hydrogen innovation. At the same time, Groningen is transforming healthcare towards positive health and accelerating the move from a linear to a circular economy.
Leeuwarden – Green, blue and circular
Leeuwarden is a dynamic and growing city of 127,000 inhabitants. As the European Capital of Culture in 2018, the city demonstrated how culture, innovation, and community engagement can reinforce one another and drive societal change. With strong knowledge hubs such as the WaterCampus and Dairy Campus, Leeuwarden combines innovation with biodiversity, sustainability, and future-oriented development. The region serves as a living lab where new solutions in the fields of water, soil, and the built environment are tested in real-life settings.
The city’s vision focuses on digitalisation, human capital, broad citizen participation, and a strong green-blue living environment. As a European frontrunner in circularity, Leeuwarden is committed to closing cycles and value chains, particularly in the water and construction sector and through circular procurement.
Leeuwarden also prioritises climate adaptation, biodiversity, the energy transition, and a healthy, inclusive living environment. The interaction between the city and its rural surroundings creates a unique rural–urban symbiosis, ensuring that natural resources are preserved and circular principles are applied at a regional scale. Culture acts as a binding force that connects residents, entrepreneurs, and visitors, inspiring collective movement toward a sustainable future.
Emmen – Industrial strength and circular and biobased innovation
In terms of territory, Emmen is the fourth-largest municipality in the Netherlands, with 110,000 inhabitants, and it represents the largest industrial sector of the Northern Netherlands. The city combines industrial scale with a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Emmen’s ambitions focus on knowledge development, digitalisation, energy transition and climate adaptation, circular economy, and smart mobility. The city is particularly strong in green chemistry, biobased and circular plastics, and hydrogen innovation, supported by the Greenwise Campus. Emmen plays a key role in cross-border cooperation and the development of one of Europe’s most innovative industrial corridors.
Assen – Healthy urban living and sustainability
Assen, the capital of Drenthe, is a dynamic city of 70,000 inhabitants where nature, innovation, and strong community ties come together to shape a sustainable and resilient future. Assen offers a comprehensive range of facilities to the city and functions as a centre for the region. With the Safety and Security Campus, Assen has developed a collaboration between education, research, businesses, civil society, and local, regional and national governments.
Assen is the winner of the European Green Leaf Award 2027, underlining its strong commitment to sustainability and healthy urban living. Envisioning 2040, Assen sees itself as a compact, green, and dynamic city where urban life and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Assen’s priorities are the energy transition, urban development according to the NEB principles, safety and security, and a social and inclusive society with a strong emphasis on housing and well-being. Policy and innovation are bottom-up, co-created, neighbourhood-oriented, and data-driven. We call this the neighbourhood approach.
With these developments and international events such as TT Assen, the city proves to be a place to live, work, and innovate.
