News item | 05-12-2023 | 06:00
Nine municipalities will receive a total of 26 million euros to tackle their shopping areas. Minister Adriaansens of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) announced this today. In many municipalities, retail vacancies are increasing, making shopping areas less attractive for residents and visitors. “With this contribution, municipalities can tackle this. For example, shopping areas become more attractive through facade renovation, better walking routes and more public seating areas. More greenery also creates a shopping area where people like to do their shopping,” the minister said. “In this way we keep villages and cities alive.”
The nine municipalities that receive a contribution are: Apeldoorn (Gelderland), Emmen (Drenthe), Enschede (Overijssel), Nissewaard (South Holland), Sluis (Zeeland), Someren (North Brabant), Terneuzen (Zeeland), Waalwijk ( North Brabant) and Westervoort (Gelderland).
The allocation of 26 million euros to nine municipalities forms the third round of the so-called ‘Impulse Approach to Shopping Areas’. A total of 100 million euros is available for this scheme. In addition to municipalities, private investors play an important role in the implementation of the projects.
In September 2022, eleven other municipalities already received a government contribution of 22 million euros (Alkmaar, Bunschoten, Den Helder, Hardenberg, Heerlen, Hengelo, Het Hogeland, Hilversum, Oldambt, Roosendaal and Sittard-Geleen). In March 2023, the cabinet allocated 18 million euros to nine municipalities (Heerenveen, Dokkum, Beekdaelen, Tilburg, Uithoorn, Oldenzaal, Dordrecht, Nissewaard and Rijswijk).
The scheme has a total of four opening periods. Municipalities can submit an application for the fourth and final round between May 20 and July 1, 2024. In this round, 22 million euros are available. Municipalities can find information at Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The RVO also organizes a webinar and in-depth question time for municipalities that want to submit an application.