The OV-bureau (public transport authority)
The OV-bureau was founded in 2004 by the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe and the municipality of Groningen in order to collectively fulfil the task of commissioning public (bus) transport. The idea behind the cooperation was to join forces in order to create transport, social and financial added value for public transport in the area. Public (bus) transport is an important part of the broader traffic and transport policy in the region.
Our mission
The mission of the OV-bureau is to create, maintain and improve a future-proof and accessible mobility system. The aim of this system is to make and keep rural and urban areas accessible. In addition, public transport must be and remain affordable for both travellers and the government.
This mission is broader than bus transport alone and what the OV-bureau can achieve independently. This is why it is important that the OV-bureau works with partners such as the national government, provinces, municipalities, transport companies, educational institutions and other companies and organisations that can help to realise this mission.
The OV-bureau as director
The OV-bureau fulfils the role of director and monitors the social objectives that need to be achieved with public transport (e.g. availability, reachability, accessibility). The OV-bureau must work within the established financial frameworks and is also responsible for transport development and passenger revenues. The service is implemented and executed by the public transport company.

Fleur Gräper – van Koolwijk
voorzitter - provincie Groningen
IJzebrand Rijzebol
provincie Groningen
Hans Kuipers
provincie Drenthe
Henk Jumelet
provincie Drenthe
Philip Broeksma
gemeente Groningen
Rik van Niejenhuis
gemeente Groningen
Nelleke Vedelaar
Provincie Drenthe
Melissa van Hoorn
provincie Groningen
Inge Jongman
gemeente Groningen
Fleur Gräper – van Koolwijk
voorzitter - provincie Groningen
Philip Broeksma
gemeente Groningen
Nelleke Vedelaar
Provincie Drenthe
Rosalinde Hoorweg
Secretaris
Ambition 2020– 2030
It is the ambition of the OV-bureau to optimally facilitate the traveller who chooses the bus as part of his journey and to further strengthen the role of public transport by bus in the overall mobility system. We translate this into three lines of ambition:
- Future-proof accessibility, including good and fast connections to and from the towns and cities and perhaps a ‘system leap’ to continue guaranteeing this kind of accessibility in the future;
- Maintaining, and where possible, improving the accessibility of neighbourhoods and rural areas, for example by connecting junctions (hubs) with smaller-scale modes of transport such as the hub taxi and individual transport (car, bicycle, walking);
- Further sustainability of public transport in the broadest sense of the word, both in terms of equipment and of all of the business operations.

The ambition lines set out show that public transport by bus has various functions. It contributes to the accessibility and viability of neighbourhoods and rural areas, either by an established line bus or another form of transport such as the hub taxi. In addition, public transport has an important role to play in the accessibility of urbans areas and facilities. Because public transport is not carried out in a vacuum, but is part of the overall province and municipal policy, the implementation of the system as sustainably as possible is a relevant issue.
In the coming years, the network of bus lines will be further improved in order to continue to address the wishes and travel needs of passengers. The network is currently characterised by a strong hierarchy and this has shown to work.