Demissionary Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning Mona Keijzer paid a working visit to the Ursem Modulaire Bouwsystemen factory in Wognum today. During her visit, the minister was given a tour of the modern production facility, where innovative and sustainable construction solutions are developed.

Minister Keijzer spoke with employees and board members about projects under development and the latest developments in industrial construction. This construction method is playing an increasingly important role in accelerating housing construction and reducing CO2 emissions. "It is important to emphasise that this type of construction is needed to quickly reach the urgently needed 100,000 homes. Don't forget that many skilled workers will be retiring in the coming years. That's why these types of construction methods are necessary, and they look really good," said the minister. She added with a smile: "And it was nice that this factory is conveniently located near Edam-Volendam."

The visit underscores the importance that the government attaches to cooperation between industry and government in order to tackle the housing shortage while at the same time achieving sustainability goals. Ursem Modulaire Bouwsystemen is a leading example of how Dutch manufacturing can contribute to a sustainable and efficient construction sector. Together with its partners Heddes Bouw & Ontwikkeling and Schouten Techniek, it has produced 2,000 modules over the past three years and, in the past 12 months alone, has built new homes for 290 people, with more to follow by the end of this year.

"By bringing together the government, corporations and us as builders, we can build faster, smarter and more sustainable," says Boaz de Boer, commercial director at Heddes Bouw & Ontwikkeling. "We are working more cross-project with Ursem's products in our projects, which makes us faster and more sustainable. This collaboration in, among other things, the NH Bouwstroom provides continuity and greater predictability throughout the entire process. As a result, we are making real strides in optimising the benefits of industrial and modular construction."

Do you want to learn more about modular construction? Read more here.