to “Groningen recall campaign” The municipality hopes to attract people from a “production year” between 1988 and 1998. Anyone who currently lives or works in the Randstad and has a connection to the city can tell us what they miss most about Groningen. The top five entries will be rewarded with two well-organized days and an overnight stay in Groningen, to encourage them to continue their careers in the north of the country.

There are many vacancies open. People working in the energy, health or digital sectors and “desire to make an impact on the world around them” are particularly encouraged to apply. “A misconception has arisen that job opportunities are limited to the Randstad only,” according to the campaign text.

Groningen is also said to be a “fertile environment” for “professional and personal growth”, and there are plenty of opportunities and possibilities to “continue developing talent and help build the future”.

High housing costs

The campaign is a collaboration between the municipality and local businessmen. With texts such as “You are over-stimulated by always being on” and you live on the Randstad “probably at a very high price per square meter”, the initiators behind the campaign hope to convince their former compatriots to choose Groningen again.

The city is not the first to carry out such a campaign. The province also allocated funds in Zealand to fill more than 9,500 vacant positions.