Grants for monuments and characteristic buildings

Monuments deserve special Health and Attention. To support owners in this, there are numerous subsidy options available. Sometimes these are only for national monuments, sometimes also or especially for municipal monuments and characteristic buildings. There are also subsidies focused on the function of a monument, such as agricultural heritage or churches. You will find more information about the possibilities below. 

Municipal monuments

This subsidy scheme is intended for owners of municipal monuments in the municipality of Opsterland.

Subsidy scheme for municipal monuments Opsterland

The purpose of the grant scheme is to provide financial support for work that contributes to the preservation and conservation of municipal monuments. You can think of repair work, preservation or cultural-historical research. More information about the scheme.

Using the button below, you can apply for the Opsterland Municipal Monuments Subsidy Scheme. 

Submit application

Financial support and advice for monuments

Monument owners in Friesland have access to various grants, loans and expertise:

Incentive scheme for monuments

The province of Fryslân establishes this scheme every year. The province gives subsidies to national monuments, municipal monuments and to characteristic buildings (not residential buildings). More information and how to apply for this subsidy can be found on the website of the province of Fryslân.

Grant scheme for monuments Fryslân 2025 non-residential buildings / SUMO (applications start mid-June)

The grant is for natural persons and legal entities under private law who own or have a right in rem to use a monument. They must submit the grant application. Owners of a residential monument cannot apply for a grant with this scheme. 

https://www.fryslan.frl/subsidieregeling-monumenten-fryslan

Conservation grant for national monuments (Sim).

The rijksoverheid grants this subsidy to owners of national monuments that do not originally have a residential function, such as farms, churches, factories and mills. With this subsidy you finance part of the maintenance of your monument. This is sober and efficient maintenance, based on a conservation plan, over a period of 6 years.

https://www.cultureelerfgoed.nl/onderwerpen/subsidie-instandhouding-rijksmonumenten

Rezoning grant (currently closed, may reopen in fall)

Do you own a structure that does not easily lend itself to another use, such as a church, industrial building, school, barn, monastery or castle? If so, you may be able to take advantage of the reuse grant and, in addition, a sustainability study.

https://www.cultureelerfgoed.nl/onderwerpen/subsidie-herbestemming-monumenten

National restoration fund

The National Restoration Fund really wants to make a difference to society. We want to make an impact. Ever since our establishment in 1985 by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, we have been committed to encouraging the restoration and preservation of monuments. How do we do that? By funding, collaborating and sharing knowledge. We make a difference by supporting those monument owners who, with our financial support, are enabled to make an impact on people, monuments and their surroundings.

www.restauratiefonds.nl

Subsidy for residential monuments (residential subsidy for national monuments).

Private owners of national monuments with a residential function can apply for an annual subsidy for the costs incurred in the previous calendar year for the preservation of their national monument (residential subsidy). The National Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) processes the subsidy application.

https://www.cultureelerfgoed.nl/onderwerpen/subsidie-woonhuismonumenten and https://www.cultureelerfgoed.nl/onderwerpen/subsidie-woonhuismonumenten/nieuws/2024/12/04/woonhuisregeling-met-4-jaar-verlengd

Agricultural heritage

Important partners in the conversion or repurposing of agricultural heritage are farm foundations. Each province has one or more. They not only advise on projects, but also regularly organize activities to exchange knowledge or highlight exemplary projects. All farmstead foundations are united in Agrarisch Erfgoed Nederland (AEN). The purpose of this foundation is to exchange knowledge between the regional and provincial farmstead foundations and to have a greater say in national policy.

The Farmstead Fund is a national fund for stimulating reallocation. It was set up by AEN with support from the Ministry of OCW and in cooperation with the Restoration Fund and the RCE. The fund can support projects for valuable reallocation of agricultural heritage with knowledge and a financial contribution.

Financing options for monuments

Various low-interest loans and mortgages are available for monument owners:

Low-interest loan through the Cultural Fund

The Cultural Fund, the National Restoration Fund and nine provinces are working together in the Cultural Funds for Monuments. The fund provides low-interest loans for the restoration, preservation and reallocation of municipal and provincial monuments or characteristic buildings. The Culture Funds thus have an important role in strengthening local heritage and thus preserving the unique character and identity of regions. And they contribute to accelerating energy transition and preparing monuments for the future.

https://www.cultuurfonds.nl/erfgoed-monumentenzorg

Monument Mortgage

With the Monument Mortgage, the Restoration Fund has a suitable loan for every monument owner, provided you restore, preserve or re-purpose your property. You can apply for this mortgage to finance your restoration, but also as additional financing. So it does not matter whether it is a national, municipal or provincial monument. You can use the Monument Mortgage if:

  • Restoration and sustainability financing when you are already using maximum low-interest financing
  • When you want to finance the restoration, preservation or repurposing of your municipal monument and there are no low-interest financing options.

A Monument Mortgage has three repayment options; annuity, straight-line and no-repayment. For the Monument Mortgage we use market interest rates with the choice of fixing the interest rate for 5, 10 or 15 years.

https://www.restauratiefonds.nl/particulier/financieren/alle-financieringen/monumenten-hypotheek

Platforms and knowledge bodies for monument owners

From advice and maintenance to inspiration and knowledge, find out what Monumenten.nl, Monumentenwacht Fryslân, Steunpunt Monumentenzorg Fryslân, and the Funerary Heritage Platform can do for you in preserving our heritage.

Getting Around in Monument Land

Buying, maintaining or preserving a monument? Inspiration, practical tips, ask your question in our Monument Community or find the right specialist in the Specialist Guide. www.monumenten.nl

Monument Watch Fryslân

We help owners of national monuments, municipal monuments, image-defining or characteristic buildings, or buildings in a protected face with the periodic maintenance of monuments in Friesland. We do inspections, give practical tips and advice and carry out minor (emergency) repairs. And we monitor the state of heritage in our beautiful province.

https://monumentenwachtfryslan.nl/

Foundation Steunpunt Monumentenzorg Fryslân

The Steunpunt Monumentenzorg Fryslân is an independent non-profit foundation. Our objective is "to promote the quality of integral Health for immovable cultural heritage in the province of Fryslân".

https://www.monumentenzorgfryslan.nl/

Funerary Heritage Platform

The platform is for anyone dealing with funerary heritage professionally or as a volunteer. The meetings are designed to raise awareness of funerary heritage and share its latest developments and knowledge.

https://www.cultureelerfgoed.nl/onderwerpen/begraafplaatsen-en-grafmonumenten/platform-funerair-erfgoed