Naturally healthy for children

Green, healthy schoolyards are naturally beneficial to children’s health. Research has shown that green schoolyards have a positive impact on children’s concentration, imagination, creativity and socio-emotional development. They also contribute to better group dynamics in the classroom. In addition, children who grow up in contact with nature retain a stronger connection with nature throughout their lives.

This spring, the first 10 schools in the municipalities of Zwijndrecht, Nissewaard, Delft, Leiden, Rotterdam and The Hague received the subsidy. IVN Nature Education supports the schools throughout the entire process. They provide assistance with decisions concerning participation and design, native planting, the organisation of outdoor education and opening the schoolyard to the neighbourhood.

Meindert Stolk, Healthy and Safe: “Green schoolyards are not only an asset for schoolchildren, but especially for residents of the neighbourhood as well. In addition, green schoolyards are urgently needed because of increasing heat, peak rainfall and declining biodiversity. I therefore encourage all municipalities and potential investors to contribute to greening, so that together we will have greened half of all schoolyards by 2030.”

Conditions

Schools can apply.

You can submit your application using the electronic application form, which can be found on this page. The following documents must be enclosed as attachments.

  1. at least two photographs of the current situation of the schoolyard;
  2. a declaration of consent from the landowner, if applicable;
  3. a (general) project plan including the following information:
    • information showing that the number of pupils at a school is at least equal to the minimum number for school closure applicable to the municipality;
    • a description of how a green and healthy schoolyard fits into the applicant’s educational philosophy;
    • a description of the plans for the management, use and opening of the green and healthy schoolyard during and after school hours;
    • a description of how the pupils, parents and the neighbourhood or district will be involved in creating a green and healthy schoolyard;
    • a description of the support for a green and healthy schoolyard;
    • a description of how the green and healthy schoolyard will be used for educational purposes;
    • a description of how the green and healthy schoolyard will be secured and maintained over time.
    • a general and balanced budget. “General” means that you do not need to substantiate the costs with quotations or anything similar.
    • a financial authorisation (if applicable).

On the basis of the project plan, if there are more applications than available budget, points will be awarded to determine which application best meets the subsidy requirements. The plan does not yet need to be fully developed: developing the plan is part of a support programme.

Funding ceiling and maximum application amount

A total of €600,000 is available. The maximum subsidy per applicant is €75,000, of which:

  • a maximum of €10,000 is intended for designing the schoolyard and conducting a soil survey;
  • a maximum of €57,000 is intended for furnishing the schoolyard as a green and healthy schoolyard;
  • a maximum of €4,000 is intended as a contribution towards management and maintenance during the first year;
  • a maximum of €4,000 is intended for opening the schoolyard during the first year.

Interested?

Plans for the subsidy can be submitted until 1 October. All information can be found at Green Healthy Schoolyards subsidy. IVN’s support team can help schools wishing to submit an application. Please contact [email protected]