Holland Casino Begins Construction of New Groningen Venue

Holland Casino has begun construction of a new venue at Businesspark Ter Borch, marking its return to the Groningen region following the destruction of its former casino in a fire in 2017.

A ground-breaking ceremony held on Friday brought together company employees, construction partners and local officials to mark the start of the project.

Holland Casino chief executive Petra de Ruiter said the development represented an important milestone after several years of preparation.

“Today, together, we are taking an important step towards the future of Holland Casino Groningen,” she said.

“Here, we are not only building a new building, but also a place where guests feel welcome and where our employees can work with pride.”

Marcel Thijsen, mayor of Tynaarlo, said the project was significant for the region and could contribute to the development of Businesspark Ter Borch. Its location beside the A7 is expected to provide access for visitors from Groningen, Drenthe and surrounding areas.

The operator said the new venue would prioritise sustainability, accessibility and hospitality, with its design reflecting contemporary guest preferences.

However, Holland Casino has not yet disclosed the construction schedule, expected opening date, capacity or cost of the development.

Richard van den Broek, a Holland Casino employee who attended the ceremony, said he was “relieved that it is finally starting and can’t wait to walk in here”.

Attracting Visitors From Germany

Holland Casino, the state-owned operator of the Netherlands’ regulated casino market, has been without a permanent venue in Groningen since the 2017 fire. Businesspark Ter Borch was selected as its preferred relocation site in 2023.

The new location is approximately a 40-minute drive from the German border, making visitors from the neighbouring country an important potential audience.

Speaking to iGB in September, de Ruiter identified German guests as a key demographic for the operator’s land-based casinos, citing differences in the entertainment offering.

“German visitors are really interested because we have a different offer from most of the German casinos,” she said.

“If you look at our land-based casinos, it’s table games, slots, in some cases bingo and, on some evenings, poker. But there are also restaurants, entertainment. It’s an afternoon or evening out. And as I understand from our German guests, it’s a more entertaining evening or afternoon than in some German casinos.”

Online Licence Extended Until 2031

The construction project comes as Holland Casino continues to develop its online operations. The operator has secured a five-year extension to its online gambling licence, allowing its digital offering to remain available in the regulated Dutch market until at least 2031.

De Ruiter said the company would maintain its focus on player protection while working to ensure the regulated market remained competitive with unlicensed providers.

Holland Casino “will continue to commit to a safe and responsible online offering, where player protection always comes first”, she said.

“At the same time, it remains essential that the regulated market is attractive enough to keep players away from unregulated providers, where supervision and protection are lacking,” she added.