Plans for roughly 75,000 homes and 40,000 jobs south of Utrecht—a development the size of the city of Den Bosch—depend on a tram line that currently has no funding, RTV Utrecht reported.
Prime Minister Rob Jetten visited the Merwede construction site on November 4 to see the scale of the project firsthand, but he arrived without money for the Rijnenburg line that local officials say is essential to build the homes.
Jetten Sees the Site, Brings a Romper and No Cash
Jetten, who chairs the national taskforce on housing acceleration, toured Merwede—one of the largest construction sites in the Netherlands—with Utrecht Sharon Dijksma and alderman Linda Voortman, according to De Utrechtse Internet Courant. The visit lasted only an hour because Jetten had to return to The Hague for a debate on the Tax Plan.
Dijksma presented Jetten with a baby romper printed with the Utrecht Dom tower. Voortman told the prime minister that the combined projects of Merwede, Rijnenburg and Galecopperzoom amount to “a city the size of Den Bosch,” adding, “But also because we need him,” since funding for the public transit connection is missing.
Jetten made no promises and brought no money. He said, “We haven’t found money for that yet, but we all understand the necessity.” He added, “It’s really a matter of gathering money right now.”
Two Motions Pass, but the Wallet Stays Shut
The day before Jetten’s visit, the Second Chamber on November 3 adopted two motions meant to advance the Rijnenburg line, though neither allocates cash, De Digitale Stad Nieuwegein reported. One motion, filed by D66’s Robin van Leijen and co-signed by VVD, CDA, PRO and ChristenUnie, asks the cabinet to investigate alternative financing for major infrastructure, including a special fund pooling contributions from governments and other parties. The Rijnenburg line is named explicitly as an example.
The second motion calls for an implementation agreement between the national government and the region on roads and transit for Groot Merwede and Rijnenburg. Landowners have already pledged 200 million euros toward the line, but that covers only a fraction of the cost.
The Merwedelijn, the tram segment already under development, has full financing of 1.8 billion euros, Omroep Lekstroom reported. That includes 562 million euros the national government committed last November plus the 200 million from landowners. The Rijnenburg line, by contrast, appeared on no funding list when the cabinet earmarked 18 billion euros for maintaining existing roads, bridges, waterways and rail.
Coalition Partners Clash Over Priority
When Van Leijen pressed for Rijnenburg funding, VVD’s Bart Bikkers reacted with surprise, Omroep Lekstroom reported. “We didn’t go through a process for nothing,” Bikkers said. “The first project under the cutoff line is the RandstadRail, which leads to even more homes than Rijnenburg.” He suggested looking instead at the Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan region.
Van Leijen countered that roughly 25,000 homes are planned for the Rijnenburg polder alone. “People simply need a home,” he said.
Why the Line Matters Now
Infrastructure Minister Vincent Karremans said in August that no money is currently available for the tram connection, De Utrechtse Internet Courant reported. Without the line, officials warn, the tens of thousands of homes planned for the area cannot be built. Jetten acknowledged the shift in thinking: for years the national government assumed the market would handle housing, but “if you want to solve such a high housing shortage, the national government, province and municipalities really need to put their shoulders to the wheel.”
Timeline Remains Uncertain
The region is working on a masterplan for the area in 2028 and an environmental vision in 2029, De Digitale Stad Nieuwegein reported. Until the national government and the region agree on who pays what, the Rijnenburg line remains unfunded.
Tram Line Funding and Timeline Gaps Revealed
How many homes depend on the Rijnenburg tram line?
The combined development of Merwede, Rijnenburg and Galecopperzoom plans for about 75,000 homes and 40,000 jobs, while the Rijnenburg polder alone is slated for roughly 25,000 homes.
How much has already been pledged for the line?
Landowners have committed 200 million euros, which officials say is insufficient to finance the full connection.
When will construction start?
No start date is set. The region aims to complete a masterplan in 2028 and an environmental vision in 2029, but funding must be secured first.
The question still open is when—and whether—the national government and the Utrecht region will assemble enough money to actually lay the tracks.
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