News item | 11-12-2025 | 15:04
To support the twenty areas of the National Liveability and Safety Program (NPLV) in improving the quality of life, resources have been allocated from the SPUK Promising Neighborhood 2026-2028. The government is making more than €400 million available for this. The NPLV areas thus implement interventions that contribute to better opportunities and more prospects for residents.
Minister Keijzer (Public 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 job opportunities, reduce financial worries, prevent educational disadvantages among children and strengthen communities.”
Bundled cash flow
For this second tranche of the SPUK Promising Neighborhood 2026-2028, resources 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). €256 million was available in the SPUK Promising Neighborhood 2023-2025.
Residents in these areas often face multiple challenges in the areas of housing, work, education, health and safety. From the SPUK Promising Neighborhood, the NPLV areas can use the resources integrally for a coherent approach in multiple areas of life.
School & Environment
Twelve NPLV areas have applied for the School & Environment program via the SPUK Promising Neighborhood. This works towards broad talent development. In the NPLV areas, the after-school program offers additional activities in the areas of sports, culture, cognitive development and social development.
For example, in Vlaardingen Westwijk, students work under supervision on their personal and social development in the LevelUp internship and talent house. The young people also receive guidance towards suitable internships and can orientate themselves on their future and career.
Development Young child, early childhood education
At the same time, Vlaardingen Westwijk is committed to strengthening pre-school and early childhood education through the SPUK Kansrijke Wijk to reduce educational disadvantages. For example, four-year-olds with developmental delays are prepared for kindergarten in a small-scale group. In addition to improving their language skills, they learn social skills. Additional professionals are also deployed in groups 1 and 2 who can provide targeted support to children who need it.
The Strong (West) District approach, in turn, focuses on activating single mothers on social assistance, strengthening social networks and increasing social cohesion in apartments and neighborhoods. A strong environment promotes a child’s development.
Martijn Sanders, director of Equality of Opportunity and Educational Support at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and government representative of Vlaardingen Westwijk: “The integrated approach that the NPLV areas can make possible through the SPUK Promising Neighborhood has a visible effect. The short lines of communication between partners in the neighborhoods ensure more cooperation. As the government, we are intensively involved in the NPLV neighborhoods. These neighborhoods and their residents require proximity of all parties.”
Reintegration and prevention of financial worries
With the SPUK Promising Neighborhood, the NPLV areas also implement interventions to increase job opportunities and prevent financial worries and debts. In Arnhem East, the intervention Geitenkamp Werkt! focuses on guiding them into work and/or improving the socio-economic position of young adults. Collaboration with neighborhood organizations also contributes to strengthening social cohesion in the neighborhood.
Roelien Kamminga, mayor of Groningen and chairman of the Social Coalition Groningen-Noord:
“Residents in the NPLV areas such as Groningen-Noord often struggle with a combination of problems such as unemployment, poverty, educational disadvantages, housing problems, poor health and safety issues. With, among other things, the SPUK Promising Neighborhood, we further strengthen the quality of life in the neighborhoods.With the integrated program for young children – such as easily accessible childcare and our additional education professionals as bridge officers – we offer children a strong start. At the same time, we offer parents the opportunity to actively participate in society, whether it concerns education or guidance towards work.
We strongly believe in collaboration with local partners and residents, and in a strong neighborhood as a basis. For that reason, on behalf of all mayors involved, I am calling on the new cabinet to structurally finance the National Liveability and Safety Program in the future. Because together we really make a difference.”
Social cohesion
To strengthen social cohesion, various NPLV areas organize interventions aimed at resident involvement, encouraging encounters, active citizenship and resilience. For example, district caretakers in Dordrecht West cook soup every week together with residents in the neighborhood soup café. And in Leeuwarden East, the social food gardens are being expanded. These gardens not only offer residents on a tight budget food and meeting places, but also function as a learning place where students are introduced to nature and sustainability.
Financial education
To prevent poverty and debt, financial education interventions are deployed in the NPLV areas with the SPUK Promising Neighborhood. Amsterdam Nieuw-West, for example, is working on a training that offers parents concrete tools to teach their children to handle money responsibly. Collaboration on this theme with, among others, bridge officers at primary schools and the Amsterdam Family School will also be improved.