Information for church owners

Grants (Municipality of Opsterland)

Two grants are available from Opsterland municipality:

• Subsidy Scheme Contribution to Energy Costs for Social Organizations.: Did you incur high energy costs in 2022, 2023 and/or 2024, and does your organization face (or have faced) an operating deficit in 2022, 2023 and/or 2024? Then you can apply for an allowance for high energy costs. More information. (This scheme runs until December 31, 2024).
• Subsidy scheme to make social property Opsterland more sustainable: Are you planning to implement sustainability measures? You may be eligible for the subsidy. More information. (This scheme runs until December 31, 2025).

Grants for preservation (Future Religious Heritage)

On the Future Religious Heritage website you can now find a comprehensive overview of all possible grants and incentive schemes to help owners make their church buildings more sustainable. This makes it even easier to invest in sustainability.

On this page, 13 national grants and measures are conveniently listed plus 12 entries to the 12 provincial measures: Grants and incentives | Preservation | Future religious heritage 

Note: The provincial program runs until Jan. 1, 2025.

Sustainability in religious heritageRijksoverheid)

The Rijksoverheid has a handy overview with information regarding making your church sustainable. You can find the overview here.

IMF Ferduorsumjen Mienskipsgebouwen

There will be another opportunity to take advantage of this grant in 2025. Click here for more information.

Heritage & Public Platform

Fryslân has over 700 churches, 233 of which are listed on www.friesland.nl/kerken (the website for Fryslân residents and tourists). This part of the website was created through a collaboration of Merk Fryslân and Stichting Erfgoed & Publiek on behalf of Provinsje Fryslân. Churches can create their own account at Friesland.nl and share (tourist) information on it. Think of address details, visiting hours, information about the building and its history. But also events and other offerings where the public is welcome.

Grant scheme for monuments Fryslân 2024

The Province of Fryslân is making €2,877,300 available in 2024 for the restoration of monuments in Fryslân. Owners of characteristic buildings, municipal and (green) national monuments can apply for this between September 16 and 20, 2024. More information.

Much church heritage is threatened. Museum Catharijneconvent therefore advises and assists churches and monasteries when it comes to management and preservation, cultural valuation, disclosure and reallocation of church interiors and movable religious objects. In this way Health is carried for the preservation of important heritage. Click here to visit the website of Museum Catharijneconvent.

• Opsterland Municipality's road guide provides information on grants, agencies and advice to church owners. Click here to download it.
• Would you like to stay informed about developments regarding the future of religious heritage? Then you can subscribe to the newsletter of the Rijksdienst - Future Religious Heritage.
• At the Heritage Academy, there will soon be a course aimed at owners of churches. More information.