Industry Policy, Regional Transformation, and the Future of Heerlen-Noord

Last week, our colleague Rim H.M. Stroeks took part in the 8th edition of the Academie voor Sociale Stedelijke Ontwikkeling in Heerlen. The central theme of this edition, “Industry Policy,” carries significant weight in a city where the legacy of the mine closures is still felt more than five decades later. Under the moderation of Lodewijk Asscher, a diverse panel of experts explored and reflected on what industry policy means for the region today.

A new “canary in the coal mine”

One of the key metaphors of the morning was introduced by Olaf Sleijpen, President of De Nederlandsche Bank. Historically, the canary in the coal mine served as a warning sign for miners facing danger. Today, Sleijpen argued, we find our warning signs above ground. Issues such as the labour market, housing availability, public safety, education, and energy security function as our modern-day canaries, and nowhere is this more visible than in Heerlen-Noord.

New opportunities on the horizon

Speakers including Sjoerd Wiemer Sjoerdsma and our own Bakir Bulic highlighted the transformative potential of major developments in the region. The arrival of the Einstein Telescope and the new AI Gigafactory just across the border in Jülich promise to bring new economic activity and employment opportunities. Combined with the ongoing transformation of Chemelot and the expected growth of the defence industry, these developments position South Limburg as a region with renewed potential, a region that could once again become a centre of growth.

CEI’s role in the long-term transformation

These long-term regional shifts align closely with the goals of the Nationaal Programma Heerlen Noord, a 25-year initiative focused on improving safety and quality of life in one of the Netherlands’ most vulnerable urban areas. As part of this effort, CEI is already contributing by conducting research and engaging directly with entrepreneurs in the neighbourhood. We aim to better understand how they experience entrepreneurship in the area, how they envision the future of their district, and which ideas they believe could drive meaningful change.

Are you an entrepreneur in Heerlen-Noord?

We would love to hear from you. If you are a local entrepreneur and would like to share your experiences or collaborate in shaping the future of Heerlen-Noord, we warmly invite you to get in touch with us.