Holland Casino has revealed that a new location has been set for its Groningen casino. The new location is Business Park Ter Borch on the A7 and the new facility is expected to open in 2027, although an official opening date has not yet been revealed, according to a press release from the Dutch state-owned company.
Fulfillment of all standards and requirements:
Six years ago, in 2017, there was a fire at the Holland Casino at Gedempte Kattendiep in Groningen, where the entire casino was completely destroyed. Then a year later, in mid-December, a temporary “pop-up“ casino opened in Sontplein.
The original plans were for the casino to remain there until 2021 and then return and be rebuilt at its old location at Gedempte Kattendiep mentioned above. However, that never occurred because both the casino and the aforementioned municipality began searching for a new location, which has now officially been found.
The mentioned location on the outskirts of the municipality of Tynaarlo was chosen because it meets all the requirements and standards of the company. Those standards are sustainable and architectural in nature, but also include easy access for visitors and plenty of parking space, Holland Casino officials said.
Commenting on the new location, Petra de Ruiter, CEO of Holland Casino, said: “We are happy that the decision has now been made. If the Tynaarlo municipal council is as enthusiastic as the board of Holland Casino, we can enter the period of planning and construction. I’m looking forward to that and especially to the moment when the new Holland Casino Groningen is open. That is not only good news for our guests, but also for our employees. They will soon be able to optimally welcome guests from a new building and offer the hospitality that can be expected from us.”
Choice of two convenient locations:
Last year there was still nothing about a new location that would be suitable for a casino. Suddenly, almost a year later, two locations were found that could be considered suitable. The first one, Europapark, is located in the immediate vicinity of the aforementioned temporary casino and FC Groningen stadium, and even though it received the support of Groningen’s politicians, because they think that the casino has significant importance for the municipality, Holland Casino officials chose a second location that is outside of the mentioned municipality.
Moreover, the new business park where the casino will be constructed is situated on the edge of the city of Groningen and the municipality of Tynaarlo, and connects directly to the A7. The location, according to the operator, offers the “best opportunities” for the construction of a casino that is in keeping with the “architectural and sustainability requirements” set by the company. The location, considered a “gateway” to Groningen, can be assessed easily by guests and offers plenty of parking.
The municipal council of Tynarloo has validated the construction of the new casino. In this regard, Jurryt Vellinga, Tynarloo’s spatial planning councilor, said: “The location makes sense because of the good accessibility and the space that the business park offers. For us it is a sign that the municipality of Tynaarlo and the region are still popular for companies. This location offers employment opportunities and is a great boost for tourism in our municipality.”
However, there are also plans for the old location at Gedempte Kattendiep. Speaking about it, Holland Casino officials said: “Holland Casino offers the municipality of Groningen every cooperation to ensure that something beautiful comes back to the city center. We are grateful to everyone involved for all the cooperation and support we have received in recent years. We are very grateful to Groningen and Tynaarlo for the efforts made to find a suitable location.”