New Community Help Hub in Eijsden-Margraten connects residents with support and volunteers
Residents of Eijsden-Margraten can now visit a new Community Help Hub for questions about assistance, volunteering, and neighborhood initiatives. The hub aims to reduce pressure on informal caregivers and improve access to local support, making help easier to find.
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Eijsden-Margraten, Limburg |
| Walk-in Hours (Eijsden) | Mondays, 10:00–11:00 AM at Eijsden Social Center, Prins Hendrikstraat 21 |
| Walk-in Hours (Margraten) | Thursdays, 10:00–11:00 AM at ‘t Hoes van Mergraote, Schinkepoort 69 |
| Contact | Phone: 06 2543 5317, Email: (provided upon request) |
| Services Offered | Assistance, volunteering, informal care, neighborhood initiatives, and support |
| Target Groups | Residents, volunteers, professionals (e.g., GPs, Wmo consultants) |
| Operational Since | Early 2026 |
The municipality of Eijsden-Margraten plays a key role in fostering social cohesion and support networks for its residents. By establishing the Community Help Hub, it strengthens local infrastructure, ensuring that informal care, volunteering, and neighborhood initiatives are better coordinated and accessible.
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Read the full translated article below
Municipality Opens Community Help Hub
The municipality of Eijsden-Margraten has had the new Community Help Hub since the beginning of this year. A physical location in the municipality where residents can simply walk in with questions about assistance, volunteering, informal care, and neighborhood initiatives. We spoke with alderman Chris Piatek, Claudia Gulikers from Trajekt, and Henrike Rutten from MEE Zuid-Limburg about the reasons behind it and what residents can expect.
Why this hub?
Alderman Chris Piatek: “Our municipality has a strong tradition of ‘neighborliness.’ People are happy to help each other, often without expecting anything in return. But we also see that the pressure on care is increasing. Informal caregivers are becoming overburdened, volunteers don’t always know where to turn, and residents sometimes struggle to find the right support.”
According to the alderman, the hub is a logical and necessary step. “We bring clarity and connection. The hub shows what’s available and ensures that residents can quickly find the right place. This isn’t an extra counter but a strengthening of our social foundation. And very importantly: residents can simply walk in for advice.”
Volunteers and neighborhood initiatives deserve support
Claudia Gulikers, community worker at Trajekt, sees daily how active residents are. “There’s so much happening in our villages: living room gatherings, buddy projects, neighborhood initiatives, the Volunteer Assistance Service. But it’s fragmented. Volunteers sometimes need training or want to coordinate with professionals.”
The hub will help with that. “We ensure that volunteers feel supported and that initiatives can find each other. But as a hub, we also want to bring people together for small assistance, meetings, and participation. It will truly be the hub of the network. And because it’s a physical, accessible location, residents and volunteers can easily walk in with questions.”
A bridge between formal and informal care
Henrike Rutten, working at MEE Zuid-Limburg, emphasizes that the hub is not just for residents but also for professionals. “A general practitioner or Wmo consultant sometimes sees that someone primarily needs companionship, a chat, or practical help. In such cases, informal support often fits better than professional care. But the path to it isn’t always clear.”
The hub provides clarity. “We’re working on a good matching process, clear information, and a recognizable location for everyone: residents, volunteers, and professionals. And we’ll continue learning together what works and what can be improved.”
What does this mean for you as a resident?
The hub offers:
- A central location in the municipality where you can simply walk in.
- An overview of all facilities in the municipality.
- Support for residents, volunteers, and professionals.
- Faster connections between those seeking help and volunteers.
Come by, call, or email us
Walk-in hours at Eijsden Social Center, Prins Hendrikstraat 21, Eijsden. On Mondays from 10:00–11:00 AM.
Walk-in hours at Margraten’s ‘t Hoes van Mergraote, Schinkepoort 69. On Thursdays from 10:00–11:00 AM.
You can also call: 06 2543 5317 or send an email to:.
Building a strong community together
Alderman Chris Piatek concludes: “This hub is an investment in our community. We’re doing it together, with residents, volunteers, and our partners. That way, we ensure that everyone can continue to participate as much as possible.”V.l.n.r. Chris Piatek, Henrike Rutten, Claudia Gulikers.