Europe + Heritage programme

Heritage can be both tangible and intangible: it includes natural heritage, built and archaeological sites, museums, monuments, artworks, historic cities, literary, musical and audio-visual works, and the knowledge, practices and traditions of citizens.

DutchCulture supports sustainable heritage cooperation between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Europe by supporting and facilitating (international) expert meetings and exchanges while underlining the European context of heritage. We identify trends and opportunities and are in close contact with the heritage field. Please keep us up to date on your tangible and intangible heritage projects with and within Europe by sending us an email.

The Europe + Heritage Programme is designed for heritage organisations and professionals that are based in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Netherlands, Aruba, Bonaire and Sint Maarten) and wish to visit a European partner, invite a European partner or set up a cooperation with a European partner.

DutchCulture offers consultations in English or Dutch to organisations and individuals who want to start a European heritage project. We do so by offering information about national and international funding opportunities and connecting projects and organisations to international partners. Please do not hesitate to contact Jacomine Hendrikse, advisor Europe + Heritage, to schedule your consultation.

DutchCulture supports heritage cooperation between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Europe by offering two grant schemes: the Travel Grant Scheme and the Support Grant Scheme.

1. Europe + Heritage Travel Grant Scheme (Reiskostenregeling)

Cooperation starts with establishing contact and getting to know each other. To facilitate this, DutchCulture has created the Travel Grant Scheme. Under this scheme, vouchers of €250 (for applicants based in the Netherlands) or €1.500 (for applicants based in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten or Saba - the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands).

Who can apply? 
The scheme is open to heritage professionals from the Kingdom of the Netherlands (including the Caribbean part) who wish to visit a European partner. The scheme is open to heritage organisations or municipal councils established in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (including the Caribbean part) that wish to invite European heritage professionals to visit the Netherlands. The Dutch partner can apply on behalf of the European heritage professional, organisation or municipality. The scheme is open to staff members of heritage departments of Dutch municipalities.  

What countries does the Travel Grant Scheme apply to?   
The Travel Grant Scheme applies to all the member states of the European Union, the candidate member states (Albania, Republic of North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, Turkey) and Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

When is the deadline?   
Applications must be submitted at least four weeks before departure. There is no deadline: you can apply for vouchers year-round until the budget has been depleted.  

For more information in English see Travel Grant Scheme (pdf), in Dutch see Reiskostenregeling (pdf).

2. Europe + Heritage Support Grant Scheme (Ondersteuningsregeling)

The goal of the Support Grant Scheme is to promote the establishment of contacts with the European heritage sector and the exchange of knowledge between the Netherlands and the rest of Europe. The Support Grant Scheme offers grants of €5.000 maximum.  

Who can apply? 
Heritage professionals and heritage organisations that are based in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (including the Caribbean part). Heritage departments of Dutch municipalities who wish to strengthen their European network and/or to improve knowledge exchange in the field of heritage between the Netherlands and the rest of Europe.

We would like to encourage you to travel as sustainably as possible and to consider the impact your means of transport has on the climate.

What countries does the Support Grant Scheme apply to?   
The scheme is meant for cooperation with European cities, countries, organisations and individuals on the theme of heritage. ‘Europe’ is understood to mean the member states of the European Union, the candidate member states (Albania, Republic of North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, Turkey) and Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

When is the deadline?   
Applications should be submitted at least six weeks before a project is due to start. Applications to the scheme can be submitted year-round until the budget has been depleted.

Please note: because the end of the 2021-2024 policy period, you can only apply for projects that will finish before 31 January 2025.

For more information in English see Support Grant Scheme (pdf), in Dutch see Ondersteuningsregeling (pdf).

Apply

Applications can be done in Dutch or English.

Application form Travel Grant Scheme (Aanvraagformulier Reiskostenregeling): Europe + Heritage Travel Grant Scheme 2021-2024.

Application form Support Grant Scheme (Aanvraagformulier Ondersteuningsregeling): Europe + Heritage Support Grant Scheme 2021-2024.

As of February 2024, a pilot programme for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom offers an increased travel voucher to applicants based in Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten. With a travel voucher of €1.500 instead of €250 for applicants based in the Netherlands, we hope to stimulate cooperation between the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Europe. The amount of the Support Grant Scheme remains the same for all applicants based in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is a maximum of €5.000.

For more information on funding, see our Mobility Funding Guide (pdf) below or contact us.