New State Secretary and Deputy

The State Secretary of Lower Saxony, Matthias Wunderling-Weilbier, and the Deputy of the Province of Groningen, Erik Jan Bennema, were in Weener last Friday for the first time in their new roles for the Wunderline. Wunderling-Weilbier, the new chair of the Wunderline Steering Group, represents the State of Lower Saxony as State Secretary, and Bennema represents the Province of Groningen as Deputy.

 

State Secretary Matthias Wunderling-Weilbier (left) and Deputy Erik Jan Bennema (right)

 


Together, they are working with the Wunderline partners to realise the Wunderline. Wunderling-Weilbier and Bennema visited the Friesenbrücke, part of the Wunderline, where they attended the public opening of the bridge's cycle and footpath.

Background information

Matthias Wunderling-Weilbier (SPD) has been State Secretary of Lower Saxony, a federal state with 8 million inhabitants, since May 2025 and is responsible for Economy, Transport and Construction. Erik Jan Bennema (VVD) has been a member of the Provincial Executive of Groningen (population 0.6 million) since March 2025, with Mobility and Economy in his portfolio. Since 2019, the three authorities of Groningen, Lower Saxony and Bremen have been working together in the Wunderline project to realise the Groningen – Leer – Bremen rail link.