Our office
The EU Office of the Northern Netherlands is an in-house office representing the cities Emmen, Assen, Groningen and Leeuwarden in the EU. The EU Office is situated at the House of the Dutch Provinces in Brussels. We represent the interests of the cities and help to develop innovative projects with international partners in the EU. The goal is to find partners from other regions and cities, connect them to our projects and discover new developments and projects which can contribute to our economic challenges. This way we want to improve the competitiveness and the development of businesses in the Northern Netherlands.
Our team
Pieter Faber
Pieter Faber is head of the EU Office of the cities Northern Netherlands, founded in May 2015. Pieter graduated from Utrecht University and holds an MSc in Social Geography and Planning (2003). Between 2003 and 2004 he was studying at Leiden University in public administration. During his career, Pieter has been active in various local governments and the business world. Before his job in Brussels, he was head of economic affairs in the municipality of Assen. Pieter Faber is member of the management board of the European network ERRIN and chair of the Smart Cities and Communities and the Energy working groups. Additionally, he’s leading the Small and Medium-sized Cities Platform within the POLIS network. Pieter is also the chair of the City Representatives within the PED Stakeholder group and the Steering Committee of the SET-Plan PED programme.
Angèle Liaigre
Angèle Liaigre is EU senior project advisor for the EU office, with a more specific focus on circular (bio)economy, climate adaptation, digitalization, culture, tourism, and regional innovation valleys. In 2019, she completed a two-years Master’s programme in European governance, offered by University College Dublin and Utrecht University. After graduation, she started working for the representation in Brussels of the French region Pays de la Loire, where her attachment for local development started. She started working for our EU office in April 2023.
Ingeborg Bennink
Ingeborg Bennink has worked as a project advisor at our EU office since June 2024, specializing in health, energy, mobility, digitalization, and youth policies. Her journey into EU affairs began with the completion of her European Studies degree in 2020. After graduating, Ingeborg began her professional career in Brussels, starting at a regional representation focusing on health. She then gained valuable experience as a consultant with public affairs firms based in Brussels.
Fenna de Jong
Fenna de Jong is the intern at the EU office. She has just completed her Bachelor’s degree in Global Responsibility and Leadership at the University of Groningen. Now she has moved to Brussels to join the EU office.