Municipality of Groningen

What Municipality of Groningen does

The Municipality of Groningen (Gemeente Groningen) is a Dutch municipal government entity serving approximately 230,000+ residents in the city of Groningen and surrounding areas, including the former municipalities of Haren and Ten Boer merged in 2019. It is the largest city and economic hub in Northern Netherlands, with nearly 200,000 jobs within its boundaries and 75,000 daily commuters. The municipality administers the full scope of Dutch local government functions: civil registration (passports, ID cards, driver's licenses, marriage registration), local taxation through the Noordelijk Belastingkantoor (OZB, waste, parking, tourist, precario), building and environmental permits, parking and traffic management, waste collection, social welfare and income support (including the GKB credit bank), youth and education services, care and support (Wmo), safety enforcement, and economic development for businesses and entrepreneurs.

The municipality's technology platform centers on the Mijn Groningen digital citizen portal (mijn.groningen.nl) for self-service applications and status tracking, authenticated via the national DigiD digital identity system. The public-facing website runs on the Dimpact Open Online content management system, used through a cooperative of Dutch municipalities. Supporting integrations include DeepL for multilingual translation (with 20+ languages available), ReadSpeaker for text-to-speech accessibility, and Tolkcontact for sign-language interpretation services. Reporting and complaint submission flow through a separate meldingen.groningen.nl platform. Marketing and citizen engagement span an official website, neighborhood-level newsletters, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), WhatsApp, a podcast, and traditional press relations. A waste collection calendar application (Afvalapp) supports operational services.

Revenue is sourced from three streams: municipal tax collection administered by the Noordelijk Belastingkantoor on a transactional basis (waste, tourist, property/OZB, parking, precario, advertising, sewer, WOZ valuations), service and permit fees (identity documents, building permits, business licenses, parking permits), and core government funding from national and provincial sources. Pricing models vary by stream — annual tax assessments, pay-as-you-go parking, one-time identity document fees, and usage-based service charges. Customer segments are organized horizontally into residents (primary), businesses and entrepreneurs (primary), visitors and tourists (secondary), and refugees and asylum seekers (secondary), each served through the Mijn Groningen portal, the physical Gemeenteloket service counter at Harm Buiterplein 1, the 14 050 phone line, WhatsApp, email, and postal mail.

Name

Municipality of Groningen

Legal name

Gemeente Groningen

Website

https://gemeente.groningen.nl

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Municipality of Groningen (Gemeente Groningen) is a Dutch municipal government entity serving 230,000+ residents in Northern Netherlands, administering civil registration, local taxation, permits, social welfare, waste management, parking, and economic development through the Mijn Groningen digital portal and physical service counter.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Transportation, Parking & Mobility Administration (BPAIACAM), Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Civil registration services
• Public administration
• Building permit services
• Social welfare support

Headquarters

HQ city

Groningen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Municipal Tax Collection: The municipality collects various local taxes through the Noordelijk Belastingkantoor, including waste taxes, tourist taxes, property taxes, parking taxes, and other levies.
2. Service Fees and Permits: Fees for various municipal services including permits, licenses, and administrative services.
3. Government Funding: Core funding from national government and provincial sources for municipal operations and public services.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Municipality of Groningen provides statutory municipal services to its 230,000+ residents, businesses, and visitors, including issuance of passports and identity documents, civil registration (births, deaths, marriages, moves), waste collection, parking permits, building and environmental permits, social welfare and care coordination, youth and education services, public safety, and economic development support. Service delivery is conducted through a physical service counter, the Mijn Groningen digital citizen portal authenticated via DigiD, and multi-channel contact options (phone, WhatsApp, email, post).

Product overview

The Municipality of Groningen operates a citizen services platform offering a unified digital portal (Mijn Groningen) alongside multiple standalone service categories. The platform architecture includes core citizen services (Mijn Groningen for personal applications and status tracking), contact services (multi-channel support via phone, WhatsApp, email), and domain-specific services organized by life events and administrative needs. Key service domains include: identity documents (passports, IDs, driver's licenses), mobility (parking, traffic, cycling infrastructure), environmental services (waste management, recycling, sustainability), housing and construction permits, social support (GKB financial services, care, youth services), education and youth programs, economic development for businesses, and safety services. The English portal provides international access to key services. Integration points exist for accessibility (ReadSpeaker), translation (DeepL), identity verification (DigiD), and accessibility services (Tolkcontact).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mijn Groningen (Citizen Digital Portal) Online citizen portal providing digital access to municipal products and services. Citizens can apply for services (e.g., benefits) and track the status of their applications after submission. Requires DigiD authentication.
• Passport and ID Card Services Services for applying for, extending passports and identity cards, second passports, refugee/foreigner passports, and reporting lost/stolen documents. Application fees regulated by national government.
• Driver's License Services Services for renewing, applying for first-time, reporting lost/stolen driver's licenses, health declarations for over-75s, and exchanging foreign licenses.
• Moving and Registration Services Services for reporting a move, registering in the Netherlands, visa guarantee letters, RNI registration, address confidentiality, and address research.
• Waste Collection Service (Afvalapp) Application for waste collection calendar. Citizens can search by postal code and house number to see when different types of waste will be collected.
• Parking and Traffic Services Parking permits, rates, exemptions, P+R sites, car parks, on-street parking, traffic safety, shared mobility, bicycle parking and bike share services.
• Building and Housing Permits Permits and services for construction, housing, environmental matters, monuments, archaeology, and spatial planning including environmental permits and building dossiers.
• Work and Income Services Services for job seekers including vacancies, development opportunities, training, and benefits including welfare and assistance with financial problems.
• GKB (Groningse Kredietbank) Financial Services Financial services including overview and insight into finances, debt management, budget administration, protective custody, and loan applications. Available to all residents and self-employed entrepreneurs.
• Public Reports (Meldingen) Digital reporting system for waste, public space issues, parking complaints, neighborhood disturbances, safety concerns, and municipal matters through external platform.
• Youth and Education Services Services including student transport, compulsory education, school enrollment, Extended School Day, holiday activities (Vakantie050), and school building renovation (Scholenplan Gro Up).
• Support and Care Services (Wmo) Social support services including Wmo, care and help, caregiver support, protected housing, shelter for homeless, youth care, childcare complaints, and senior wellness programs.
• Energy, Climate, and Green Services
• Event Permits and Services Permits and services for organizing small or large events including event calendar, event locations, sustainable event subsidies, and related permits.
• Public Safety Services
• Earthquake Strengthening and Renewal (Aardbevingen) Services for earthquake-affected areas including strengthening, village renewal, damage handling, subsidies for earthquake-resistant construction, and compensation for property value decrease.
• Refugee and Asylum Services
• English Portal (International Residents) English-language version of the municipal website with key services for international residents including moving, housing, documents, waste sorting, parking, and international affairs.
• Multi-Channel Contact Service Multi-channel contact options including phone (14 050), WhatsApp, email via contact form, postal address, and Teletolk for accessibility.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Noordelijk BelastingkantoorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Noordelijk Belastingkantoor (Northern Tax Office) handles all municipal tax collection for the Municipality of Groningen, including waste taxes, tourist taxes, property taxes, parking taxes, and other local levies. This is a shared service arrangement for multiple northern municipalities.
• Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (University of Groningen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Groningen is one of the major knowledge institutions in the city, contributing to the young and highly educated population (44% higher educated) and driving innovation and research in Northern Netherlands.
• Hanzehogeschool Groningen (Hanze University of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor applied sciences university contributing to higher education rates and workforce development in the region.
• UMCG (University Medical Center Groningen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor university hospital and medical research center, part of the knowledge infrastructure that makes Groningen a hub for healthcare and life sciences.
• FoundedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup and scale-up support network in Northern Netherlands that connects young companies with investors, mentors, and other entrepreneurs. Provides free coaching and networking events for startups.
• De Commercieele Club GroningenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness association promoting economic activity in Northern Netherlands. Members must be nominated by two existing members.
• Groningen City ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness association for entrepreneurs in the city center, promoting healthy and dynamic business climate through structured dialogue between entrepreneurs, governments, and business organizations.
• VNO-NCW MKB NoordminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness advocacy organization for attractive business climate in Northern Netherlands, representing mid-sized and small businesses with access to broad employer network.
• DimpactcoreTechnology or IntegrationCooperative organization that provides the Open Online content management system used for the municipality's official website. Municipality is a member of the Dimpact cooperative.
• UWV (Employee Insurance Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational employment agency with which the municipality collaborates on job matching and has access to most job seekers in the region.
• SNN (Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperation organization for Northern Netherlands that administers regional subsidies and schemes for businesses in the area.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gemeente Maastricht: Southern Dutch university city (Maastricht University, Zuyd) with comparable scale, international-resident services, and knowledge-economy positioning relative to Groningen's northern Dutch profile.
• Gemeente Nijmegen: Dutch university city (Radboud University, Radboud UMC) closely comparable in size and demographic mix; similar social-support, sustainability, and student-services portfolio.
• Gemeente Almere: Large, fast-growing Dutch municipality with comparable urban-planning, housing-permitting, and resident-services demands; useful peer for benchmarking growth-related capex and integration of new neighborhoods.
• Gemeente Rotterdam: Second-largest Dutch municipality with the same combined portfolio of resident services, business permitting, mobility administration, and social care. Operates a comparable multi-channel digital/physical service architecture.
• Gemeente Breda: Mid-sized Dutch municipality with a similar combined portfolio — parking, permits, social care, sustainability programs — and comparable digital citizen portal delivery model.
• Gemeente Tilburg: Mid-sized Dutch municipality (Tilburg University) with comparable service breadth, multi-channel resident engagement, and economic-development mandate.
• Gemeente Utrecht: Mid-large Dutch municipality with a similar knowledge-economy profile (Utrecht University, UMC Utrecht) and comparable sustainability and mobility ambitions, mirroring Groningen's university-anchored positioning.
• Gemeente Eindhoven: Dutch knowledge-economy municipality (TU/e, Brainport) with a comparable economic-development and innovation-ecosystem mandate, similar startup-friendly positioning via partners like Founded analogues.
• Gemeente Amsterdam: Largest Dutch municipality providing the same portfolio of identity, parking, waste, social-support, and permit services through a comparable digital portal (Mijn Amsterdam) and DigiD-authenticated channels. Most directly comparable in scope and service breadth.
• Gemeente Den Haag: Large Dutch municipality with a comprehensive resident-services platform (Den Haag.nl) covering identity documents, parking, social support, and permits; comparable in administrative breadth and digital service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groningen050
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gemeente-groningen
• Instagraminstagram.com/gemeente_groningen
• Xx.com/gem_groningen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Municipality of Groningen