The zoning plan for the development of a Mobility and Infrastructure Test Centre (MITC) is irrevocable. The two pending appeals on the zoning plan have been withdrawn. City Council Member Linda Verduin of Noordoostpolder municipality: ‘It is an important step for the development of the MITC. An international centre where companies, research, education and knowledge institutions come together for research and high-tech developments in smart mobility. This is where vehicles and aircraft for the future will be developed and tested. The arrival of the RDW and the Police (Academy) training centre in Marknesse is the first essential step to achieve this.’
RDW Test Centre
The relocation of the RDW Test Centre and the Police Academy’s training centre to Marknesse will now be finalised. This means the designs will be finalised and tendering for the work can start. RDW’s Test Centre will move from Lelystad to Marknesse after its physical construction. A new test centre will arise, which will include a (longer) test track for testing innovative vehicles and vehicle systems. Tendering for the required work will start in mid-October 2024. Jantina Woudstra, Managing Director of RDW: ‘This is a great milestone for us. Now that the zoning plan is final, we can start the next steps. We are busy preparing for the tender phase.’
Police Academy
For the Police Academy, the centre is about enforcement and mobility. The driving education training centre of the police and the Police Academy is also moving from Lelystad to Marknesse. Among other things, the police are building a new training facility for this purpose. Leonard Kok, Director of the Police Academy: ‘Our current location in Lelystad has really served the police, but in terms of facilities, we are ready for another step towards a modern centre. As things stand, that will happen by the end of 2027. The fact that the zoning plan is irrevocable is an important step in our efforts to provide the best possible driving education to police colleagues. A police officer skilled in driving is a police officer that can use its powers while moving safely through traffic, thus ensuring greater safety in society.’
Development into a MITC
The arrival of the RDW and the police academy in Marknesse is a first step for the further development towards the MITC. Flevoland’s Commissioner Jan de Reus is happy with the milestone: ‘This innovation hub for smart mobility will be a unique place in the Netherlands and Europe. A wonderful development for Northern Flevoland that will strengthen the economy and boost broad prosperity.’ In the coming period, the MITC partners will further develop the plans for the MITC. Local residents will also be invited in the autumn to catch up on all developments.
About the MITC
The MITC is a collaboration of Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW), RDW, National Police, the Municipality of Noordoostpolder and the Province of Flevoland. Furthermore, the education sector is an important future partner in the realisation of the MITC. To this end, Firda and Windesheim University of Applied Sciences have joined the collaboration. These parties are developing the smart mobility knowledge and test centre in Marknesse. A place where vehicles and aircraft for the future will be developed and tested.
