Grant - Local Media Zoetermeer 2025-2026

For 2025, an amount of €30,000 is available. In 2026, it is € 31,200. You can receive a maximum of €5,000 per application. An organization may submit multiple applications.

The grant may be used until July 1, 2027, if you clearly substantiate it with your application. The municipality reimburses a maximum of 80% of the costs. Therefore, your organization must always pay at least 20% of the costs itself.

Your application must meet the conditions of the Local Media Subsidy Scheme Zoetermeer 2025-2026.

When are you eligible?

 You can apply for a grant if your organization:

• Legal personality.
• Demonstrably performs (local) media activities for residents of Zoetermeer.
• Complies with the Cultural Governance Code.

Grant can be used for the following activities:

• Start-up costs of non-profit new media initiatives.
• Training or education that provides professionalization.
• Activities to reach new audiences.
• Production of innovative content, including content development.
• Collaborative projects with community partners.
• Purchase and/or renovation of equipment.
• Activities that contribute to media literacy and engagement. 

Applications will be reviewed for the following:

Public and local relevance (25 points): 

• Does the activity demonstrably contribute to strengthening and pluralism of the local media landscape in Zoetermeer?
• Does the activity connect with social and municipal themes and/or current developments?
• Are neighborhood-oriented topics or stories being picked up that would otherwise be left out of the picture?
• Does the activity lead to better visibility and recognition of local themes and stories?

Reach and impact (25 points): 

• How many and which target groups will be reached, with emphasis on young people, the elderly, residents with migration backgrounds, the illiterate or other hard-to-reach groups?
• Does the activity lead to demonstrable increases in engagement and/or better information?
• Are new forms of outreach being used (e.g., social media, podcasts, neighborhood media)?
• Is there a visible effect on structural bonding with residents and neighborhoods?

Innovation and/or creativity (20 points): 

• To what extent is the activity innovative in approach, content or design?
• Are new techniques, formats or narrative forms used (such as podcasts, interactive platforms, cross-media productions)?
• Does new or improved equipment contribute to the quality or innovation of media communications?
• Is room made for experimentation and creative angles that contribute to contemporary local journalism?

Collaboration and support (15 points): 

• Are there partnerships with other media, community organizations, schools, cultural institutions, neighborhood organizations or residents.
• How structural and sustainable are these collaborations.
• Is there shared use of resources or joint productions.
• Is there local support for the activity, and does it strengthen ties to the city.

Feasibility in terms of planning, organization and budget (15 points): 

• Is the activity realistically feasible within the planned time frame and available resources.
• Is the budget complete, transparent and commensurate with the activities.
• Is demonstrably invested in professionalization, Fair Pay and/or sustainable organizational development.
• Is there sufficient organizational capacity and expertise to implement the plan.

To award a grant, you must achieve a minimum of 70 points.  

You can receive a maximum of €5,000 per application. An organization may submit multiple applications. 

Apply for local media grant Zoetermeer 2025-2026

Until when can you apply for a grant?

• For 2025: applications can be made until December 31, 2025.
• For 2026: applications can be made from Jan. 1 to Nov. 15, 2026. 

We will make a decision on your grant request within 8 weeks of submitting a complete application.

• Subsidy Scheme Local Media Zoetermeer 2025-2026
• Local Media Policy Zoetermeer
• General Subsidy Regulation Zoetermeer
• Coalition agreement Municipality of Zoetermeer
• Program budget
• Perspective Note Municipality of Zoetermeer
• Grant Register

The Subsidy Office can be reached from Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on the general telephone number 14 079. You can also send an email to ondernemingbureau@zoetermeer.nl .