Everywhere in the Netherlands, residents are standing up for their neighborhood more beautiful and livable to make. With ideas that sometimes start small, but bring about big changes. They green streets, connect people or even come up with innovative ways to collaborate with municipalities, healthcare institutions or other organizations in a neighborhood.
From neighborhood vegetable gardens to creative workshops, from meeting places to sustainable collaborations with municipalities: residents decide for themselves what their neighborhood needs and are able to do so thanks in part to a contribution from the Postcode Lottery Neighborhood Fund realize. This is how initiatives are created that not only change the living environment, but also the way we live together. These heroes show their impact.
Connection and meeting in the neighborhood
Whether it concerns a cultural activity or a colorful work of art in the street: many neighborhood projects are about solidarity. In the Schilderswijk district of The Hague, residents celebrate cultural diversity together during the annual summer festival, led by the Jacobahof Foundation. “By organizing henna workshops, calligraphy and music performances together, the neighborhood strengthens its solidarity,” says a participant.
Residents in Nijmegen also show how creativity brings people together. In the Wolfskuil district they turned a row of boring electrical boxes into cheerful and colorful works of art. “The boxes tell neighborhood stories via QR codes and invite you to take a treasure hunt through the neighborhood,” says volunteer Rita. “It gives the neighborhood pride and a new identity.”
Read more below the photo‘s >
2
Health, growth and a green living environment
Other residents focus on vitality, health and a pleasant living environment. In Amsterdam-Zuidoost, the GESC Foundation encourages children to exercise, eat and learn together. They roller skate, dance and play sports with equipment that could be purchased thanks to the Postcode Lottery Neighborhood Fund. “The children grow in self-confidence, learn healthy habits and help each other,” says Joyce, founder of the GESC Foundation. “We want children to experience that there is so much more than the digital world.”
In Rotterdam’s Lloydkwartier, young and old come together in Garden on the Pier: a green meeting place with greenhouse, picnic tables and flower boats. “It’s not just about gardening,” says resident Eric. “It is a place where people find each other and together they make the neighborhood more beautiful.”
Impact beyond the neighborhood
In addition to these small-scale projects, innovative residents’ initiatives are also emerging that extend beyond their own neighborhood. An example of this is Het Wijkpaleis in Rotterdam-West. Here residents cook together in the community kitchen, make things in the textile workshop and work in the wood workshop. “The Neighborhood Palace is about more than making. It is a meeting place where people help each other, share knowledge and make the neighborhood stronger,” says initiator Marieke.
What makes this initiative innovative is that it combines structural change with collaboration with municipalities and housing associations. Residents use their creativity and entrepreneurship to strengthen the neighborhood socially, educationally and economically. The Neighborhood Palace shows that communities can make a difference. And initiating change not only locally, but also beyond.
Read more below the photo‘s>
Big change starts with one idea
Whether you dream of a neighborhood vegetable garden, a cheerful mural project or a place where neighbors can help each other: gather your neighbors and just start. The best ideas arise when residents find each other. With a little courage, cooperation and a contribution from it Postcode Lottery Neighborhood Fund your idea can grow into a project that makes your neighborhood, or even city, greener, more social and more creative. Together we make the Netherlands a bit more beautiful.
The Postcode Lottery Neighborhood Fund is there for every neighborhood with a good idea. Be inspired!