€400 million for SPUK Promising Neighborhood: this is how NPLV areas deploy the funds

Minister Keijzer (Housing and Spatial Planning): “The physical living environment in vulnerable neighborhoods such as those of the NPLV is under pressure. That is why we are building more affordable homes, improving the existing housing stock, and investing in social facilities. But more is needed to offer residents perspective. With the SPUK Promising Neighborhood, we can increase employment opportunities, reduce financial worries, prevent educational disadvantages among children, and strengthen communities.”

For this second tranche of the SPUK Promising Neighborhood 2026-2028, funds have been pooled from the Ministries of Education, Culture and Science (€327 million), Social Affairs and Employment (€51 million), and Housing and Spatial Planning (€30 million). In the SPUK Promising Neighborhood 2023-2025, €256 million was available.

Residents in these areas often face multiple challenges related to housing, work, education, health, and safety. Through the SPUK Promising Neighborhood, the NPLV areas can deploy the funds integrally for a coherent approach across multiple living domains.

Twelve NPLV areas have applied for the School & Environment program via the SPUK Promising Neighborhood. This program focuses on broad talent development. In the NPLV areas, the after-school program offers additional activities in sports, culture, cognitive development, and social development.

For example, in Vlaardingen Westwijk, students work under supervision at the internship and talent house LevelUp on their personal and social development. Young people also receive guidance towards suitable internships and can orient themselves on their future and career.

At the same time, Vlaardingen Westwijk uses the SPUK Promising Neighborhood to strengthen pre- and early school education to reduce educational disadvantages. Four-year-olds with developmental delays are prepared for kindergarten in a small group. In addition to improving their language skills, they learn social skills. Extra professionals are also deployed in groups 1 and 2 to provide targeted support to children who need it.

The Strong (West) Neighborhood approach focuses on activating single mothers on welfare, strengthening social networks, and increasing social cohesion in apartment blocks and neighborhoods. A strong environment promotes child development.

Martijn Sanders, Director of Equal Opportunities and Educational Support at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and government representative for Vlaardingen Westwijk: “The integrated approach that the NPLV areas can enable through the SPUK Promising Neighborhood is visibly effective. The short lines between partners in the neighborhoods lead to more cooperation. As the government, we are intensively involved with the NPLV neighborhoods. These neighborhoods and their residents require proximity from all parties.”

The NPLV areas also deploy interventions with the SPUK Promising Neighborhood to increase employment opportunities and prevent financial worries and debts. In Arnhem East, the intervention Geitenkamp Works! focuses on guiding young adults towards work and/or improving their socioeconomic position. Cooperation with neighborhood organizations also contributes to strengthening social cohesion in the neighborhood.

Roelien Kamminga, Mayor of Groningen and Chair of the Social Coalition Groningen-North:
“Residents in NPLV areas such as Groningen-North often face a combination of problems such as unemployment, poverty, educational disadvantages, housing issues, poor health, and safety concerns. With, among others, the SPUK Promising Neighborhood, we further strengthen livability in the neighborhoods.

With the integrated program for young children – think of low-threshold childcare and our extra professionals in education as bridge builders – we offer children a strong start. At the same time, we offer parents the chance to actively participate in society, whether it is education or guidance towards work.

We strongly believe in cooperation with local partners and residents, and in a strong neighborhood as a foundation. For that reason, I, also on behalf of all involved mayors, appeal to the new cabinet to structurally finance the National Program for Livability and Safety in the future. Because together we really make a difference.”

To strengthen social cohesion, various NPLV areas organize interventions focused on resident involvement, encouraging meetings, active citizenship, and resilience. For example, neighborhood concierges in Dordrecht West cook a meal soup together with residents every week in the neighborhood soup café. And in Leeuwarden East, social food gardens are being expanded. These gardens not only provide food and meeting opportunities for residents with a tight budget but also serve as learning places where students get acquainted with nature and sustainability.

To prevent poverty and debts, interventions are deployed in the NPLV areas with the SPUK Promising Neighborhood in the field of financial education. For example, Amsterdam Nieuw-West is working on a training that offers parents concrete tools to teach their children responsible money management. Cooperation around this theme with, among others, bridge builders at primary schools and the Amsterdam Family School is also being improved.