Nine community projects win grants to bridge Wijdemeren and Hilversum
Residents of Wijdemeren and Hilversum will soon enjoy pétanque, art projects, and community events thanks to €40,000 in grants. Nine initiatives aim to strengthen local connections, with more funding available in the final round.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Grant Name | Samen Sterker grant |
| Total Funding | €40,000 (fully allocated in this round) |
| Number of Applications | 30 submitted |
| Selected Initiatives | 9 |
| Max Grant per Activity | €4,999 |
| Municipalities Involved | Wijdemeren (Loosdrecht, Ankeveen, Nederhorst den Berg, etc.) & Hilversum |
| Final Application Deadline | 15 May 2026 |
| Activity Deadline | Before 1 October 2026 |
| Examples of Activities | Pétanque, art projects, cycling route, barbecue, concerts |
The municipalities of Wijdemeren and Hilversum launched the Samen Sterker grant to foster social cohesion and collaboration among residents. The local government plays a facilitating role by providing funding and administrative support for community-driven initiatives.
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Samen Sterker grant for 9 initiatives
The second application round of the Samen Sterker grant has yielded some excellent initiatives. A total of 30 applications were submitted, of which the advisory committee selected nine initiatives. These will receive grants to organise activities over the coming year that strengthen encounters and collaboration between residents of Wijdemeren and Hilversum. This means the €40,000 grant pot for this second round has been fully allocated.
Mark Verheijen, Mayor of Wijdemeren: "It is inspiring to see how many residents want to contribute to bringing our villages and Hilversum closer together. These initiatives show that collaboration and encounters truly come from the residents themselves." The first activities will be organised in the coming months. For example, residents will be able to play pétanque together in the spring, and there will be meetings on coping with loss and on housing.
Other planned activities include a concert, a cycling route with assignments and a barbecue. The Dudok Architectuur Centrum foundation will travel around village festivals in Wijdemeren with a giant map of Hilversum and Wijdemeren to highlight the connection between the municipalities. After the summer, various art projects will be set up, ranging from photography and visual arts to an educational project with primary schools.
Encounters and connections
The Samen Sterker advisory committee, made up of residents from Hilversum and Wijdemeren, assessed the applications in this round and advised the municipalities on which initiatives should receive grants. The municipalities have adopted all the recommendations. Advisory committee: “We were delighted to assess these wonderful initiatives. In our assessment, we particularly looked at how an initiative contributes to encounters and connections between residents of Hilversum and Wijdemeren.”
New opportunities in the final application round
There is still €40,000 available for activities that bring people together in the third and final application round. Residents can once again submit applications for this. The third round closes on 15 May 2026. A maximum of €4,999 can be applied for per activity. Applicants will be notified in early July whether they have been awarded a grant. Bart Heller, Alderman for Hilversum: “We are very pleased that many wonderful initiatives were submitted in this round. This grant helps turn these ideas into reality. I hope that many more people will come forward in the final round.”
Samen Sterker grant
Residents, entrepreneurs and organisations from Wijdemeren (Loosdrecht, Ankeveen, Nederhorst den Berg, Kortenhoef, ’s-Graveland, Breukeleveen) and Hilversum can apply for the grant. This can now only be done in the third and final round, which is already open and closes on 15 May. The activity must take place before 1 October 2026. Information about the Samen Sterker grant scheme and the rules for applying can be found at wijdemeren.hilversum.nl. This website also provides an overview of all the initiatives.