The Grenzlandprize
North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands have always worked closely together across borders. Citizens, companies and authorities co-operate with each other at various levels and address issues of cross-border importance. Projects that innovatively connect the two countries deserve special attention. To honour such a project, the joint Borderland Prize will be awarded for the sixth time on 11 December 2025 during the Borderland Conference in Sittard.
The award recognises projects that are particularly committed to cross-border cooperation by working to bring Dutch and North Rhine-Westphalian societies closer together and actively tackling border obstacles.
The applications will be judged by an expert jury, whose members are also actively involved in cross-border co-operation between the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The three finalists will be informed four weeks before the Borderland Conference and will be given the opportunity to present themselves at the Borderland Conference with their own video. The finalists' videos will be financed by the organisers of the Grenzland Conference and can then be used for the projects' online presences. The winning project will also be announced during the Grenzland Conference and will receive prize money of 5,000 euros.
Application
We are happy to receive your application if your project is related to the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia and has an active phase in the period from June 2024 to December 2025. The project did not end before June 2024 and has been active since at least April 2025?
Then send a written application to preis@grenzsland.eu 1 by 1 September 2025 at the latest in which you briefly explain (maximum 2 A4 pages) in Dutch or German what the project involves.
In any case, please describe the following points:
1. a brief description of the project, including implementation period, partners, target audience, content, funding (public or private),
2. an explanation of the positive effects on co-operation between North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands and on the border region,
3. the reasons for realising the project,
4. information on the innovative character of the project
5. information on the sustainability of the project,
6. information on any awards already received; if so, which ones?
7. if applicable, publications, reports, brochures and press articles about the project, as an attachment.
8. if applicable, references to the project's website.
9. contact details.
Please only submit your application if it fulfils all of the following conditions:
a. The project has at least one connection to the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia. Other countries and regions may also be included.
b. The project must have started by 30 April 2025 at the latest.
c. If the project has already been completed, it must not have ended before 30 June 2024.
d. The GrenzlandPrize is intended for projects; individuals will only be honoured in exceptional cases.
The way in which the project is financed is not decisive for the awarding of the prize.
Finalists from the previous year may apply again, but the winning project from the previous year is excluded from participation.
Further information
Do you have any questions about applying for the Grenzland Prize? Then please contact us by email at preis@grenzsland.eu
We look forward to hearing more about your cross-border initiative!
The Grenzland Prize is jointly awarded and financed by
