Meerstad is a large residential and landscape development on the eastern edge of Groningen, between the city and the village of Harkstede, in the Netherlands. The area is being built around the Woldmeer and combines housing with water, green space and recreation. Its neighbourhoods include Meeroevers, Tersluis, Groenewei and De Zeilen, with homes ranging from apartments and rental housing to detached homes and self-build plots. 28
The project’s planning dates back to the 1990s; its masterplan was formally adopted in March 2005, and construction began in 2008. The first homes were completed in 2011. The project was initially a partnership involving public and private parties, but the municipality of Groningen later continued the development alone. Meerstad became wholly part of Groningen in 2017. 6712
The developer is Grondexploitatiemaatschappij Meerstad (GEMM), also known as Bureau Meerstad. It carries out the plans by developing public space, preparing land for homes and facilities, building associated infrastructure, and developing and selling homes and plots. 11 The official website also describes Bureau Meerstad’s work with residents and other stakeholders on a future agenda for the area, looking ahead to 2050. 11
The site’s supplied page information says those discussions began in November 2021 and that the resulting plans are set out in the Agenda voor de Toekomst plangebied Meerstad 2050. The available sources identify Bureau Meerstad as the project developer but do not establish a specific founding date for the bureau or name a current project leader. 11