The area development is one of the largest spatial projects ever in the Netherlands. Just back in time: in 2003, then defence minister Kamp decided to close Twenthe military airbase for austerity reasons. It meant an estimated loss of direct and indirect employment of around 2,000 jobs in Twente. An area of almost 500 hectares became available for new functions. After buying the site, Twente plunged into redeveloping the region's green heart. To this end, the municipality of Enschede and the province of Overijssel had established a vision with various functions, including an area of 130 hectares that was returned to nature. A new direction was set in 2015 for the northern plan area of 220 hectares that includes the 3-km runway. A Commission of Sages, headed by Bernard Wientjes recommended for this area that an ‘iconic’ business park should be created. ‘For the redevelopment of the military airbase, we were tasked with looking at a transformation for an economically stronger and more sustainable Twente. So balanced in that was that you account for a special and vulnerable landscape.  That search for balance between economy and nature is a constant in this area development,’ says Joep van Aaken.

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