Burgerbegroting rules

These are the main differences compared to 2025.

• A total of €750,000 is available for all projects combined. There is no separate budget for each theme.
• Legal entities, such as foundations and associations, may apply for up to €10,000. Individuals may apply for up to €5,000.
• Your application must be for a new project or initiative. A project is new if it is clearly different from previous applications, for example in its aim, target group, neighbourhood or area, activities, approach, partners or expected result.
• The project must not be largely similar to a project that has already been carried out. It must also not be a continuation, expansion, repeat or further development of an earlier project.
• You may include volunteer costs based on the maximum hourly rates set by the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration, up to 10% of the total project budget. In 2026, this is a maximum of €5.75 per hour for volunteers aged 21 and over, and €3.40 per hour for volunteers under 21. The maximum amount is €220 per month and €2,200 per year per volunteer.
• Initiators may not pay themselves to carry out their project, either at a commercial rate or a social rate. They may work at a volunteer rate.
• If there is a shortfall of more than 5% of the total budget, residents will choose which projects go ahead. This will happen through an online vote, followed by an in-person event.
• If the shortfall is less than 5% of the total budget, we will talk to the initiators. Together, we will look for a solution so all projects can go ahead without a vote.

Anyone can submit a project proposal – individuals as well as legal entities such as associations or foundations. In both cases, we call them initiators.

There is no age limit, and you do not have to live in Maastricht. What matters is that you have a good idea that benefits people in Maastricht and fits within 1 of the agreed themes.

Associations with legal status and members must submit their project idea under the Community associations theme. Foundations can submit their idea under another theme. See the Themes and budgets page for more details. 

You can submit your idea for Burgerbegroting Maastricht 2026 from Monday 17 August to Friday 11 September 2026. You do this through Maastricht’s online grants portal.

Before submitting your idea, you can make an appointment at the Meedenkhuis for advice and support. The team there can help you develop your idea, for example by working on your plan, budget and practical details. This will help you turn your idea into a strong project proposal.

To be eligible, a project must:

• fit 1 of the 5 themes
• benefit residents of Maastricht and help make life in Maastricht better
• take place within Maastricht and align with what the municipality is able, allowed and willing to support
• take place in public space, or on private property with a public function, with written consent from the owner unless the initiator is the owner. Without consent, the proposal cannot be considered
• be open to everyone. If the project is for a smaller or closed group, you will need to justify this clearly to the municipal executive
• be a new activity or additional offer that adds value for residents. It must not be the same as an earlier Burgerbegroting project
• have a budget of no more than €5,000 for individuals, who log in with DigiD, and no more than €10,000 for foundations and associations, who log in with eHerkenning
• be carried out within 12 months of receiving the financial contribution from Burgerbegroting Maastricht
• include at least:
  • a clear explanation of how the project supports 1 of this year’s themes
  • a plan of action
  • a timeline
  • a budget
  • a quote to support the budget

See the General Regulations at the bottom of this page for the full list of requirements.

Each person, foundation or association may submit a maximum of 1 project.

You decide which Burgerbegroting projects deserve funding – but the municipality will check whether submitted ideas are feasible. We look at whether the proposal is lawful, whether the project can realistically be carried out within 1 year and whether it clashes with developments that are already under way. Initiators receive a formal recommendation on whether the project is suitable for implementation. 

Projects that receive a positive recommendation go forward to round 3, where residents vote on which projects should receive funding.

Support is important for a new project. It means that people support your idea and agree with it. For projects in public space with a clear impact on nearby residents or users, you will need to show that people support your idea. This is called a support check. A support check shows how much support there is for your project in the neighbourhood. The views of people living closest to the project are especially important.

You can download the support check form, ‘Overview of neighbourhood support’, at the bottom of this page. Use this to record whether nearby residents are positive, neutral or negative about your project proposal. Upload the completed form when you submit your project.

Read what you can do yourself and how to involve people in your area in your idea on gemeentemaastricht.nl.

We do not support projects that are mainly commercial, political or religious in nature, or that appear designed to generate profit. Projects that already receive a grant or other funding from the Municipality of Maastricht, or whose main goal is fundraising or sales, will not be considered.

In January 2027, residents vote for their favourite projects. You can vote online from Monday 18 to Friday 22 January, and at a final event on Saturday 30 January. Online votes account for 40% of the final result. In-person votes account for 60%.

The selected projects must be carried out within 12 months of receiving the financial contribution from Burgerbegroting Maastricht.