Six municipalities in Alblasserwaard unite to boost regional culture and heritage
Residents of Alblasserdam, Gorinchem, and four other municipalities can soon expect a richer cultural scene. Six local governments have joined forces with Kunstgebouw to improve access to art, heritage, and cultural events across the Alblasserwaard region.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Municipalities Involved | Alblasserdam, Gorinchem, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Papendrecht, Molenlanden, Sliedrecht |
| Partner Organization | Kunstgebouw (provincial cultural support organization) |
| Date of Signing | March 17, 2026 |
| Focus Areas | Cultural infrastructure, accessibility, regional profiling, partnerships |
| Next Step | Implementation agenda to be drawn up post-municipal elections |
The six municipalities in the Alblasserwaard region are collaborating to enhance cultural offerings for their residents. Kunstgebouw, as the provincial cultural support organization, plays a key role in facilitating this cooperation, helping to align policies and initiatives across local governments.
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Six municipalities in the Alblasserwaard take joint step toward a stronger cultural region
The municipalities of Alblasserdam, Gorinchem, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Papendrecht, Molenlanden and Sliedrecht aim to strengthen art, culture and heritage in the Alblasserwaard region. The aldermen therefore signed an intent declaration for more intensive regional cooperation with Kunstgebouw. The signing took place on March 17 in Gorinchem.
With this intent declaration, the municipalities express their ambition to build a future-proof cultural infrastructure in the Alblasserwaard. By sharing knowledge, creating connections and jointly seizing opportunities, the partners aim to contribute to a rich and accessible cultural offering for all residents of the region.
Strengthening culture together
In recent months, various possible forms of cooperation have been explored. Kunstgebouw, the provincial cultural support organization in South Holland, acted as a process facilitator in this regard.
These discussions revealed that many challenges and opportunities in art, culture and heritage require a regional perspective. By working together, municipalities and partners can achieve more than they could individually.
The collaboration between Kunstgebouw and the six municipalities in the Alblasserwaard focuses on topics such as: administrative and official cooperation, public reach and accessibility, regional cultural profiling, networks and partnerships, and the future viability of the cultural sector.
Positive energy and ambition
“Among the participating municipalities, I have felt tremendous positive energy and ambition, as well as a strong desire to work together. It is wonderful that we are now putting this into practice. I am convinced that this collaboration will contribute to the appeal of the region and to better cultural access for residents in the Alblasserwaard,” said Reinier Gerritsen, Managing Director of Kunstgebouw.
The intent declaration marks an important milestone in the process. The document reflects what has already been achieved and at the same time serves as a foundation for the new municipal councils following the municipal elections.
Next steps
After the elections, an implementation agenda will be drawn up. This will outline possible joint actions. It will also explore where regional cooperation can provide the most added value. This implementation agenda will ultimately pave the way for a cooperation agreement.