Tips and advice

It’s important to come up with a catchy title – it’s the project’s calling card. A clear title helps both you and the public when they vote during the final round. Once your project is processed, it will be assigned a theme number (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) and a reference number (e.g. 001) in the system.

Enter 01-04-2026 as the start date and 01-04-2027 as the end date.

Think carefully about your project before you start writing. Describe your project in no more than 1,750 characters. Then provide a summary of no more than 450 characters. We’ll create a short core description for your project, which will appear on the website and be used during the final round.

Write concisely and clearly. The more concrete the idea, the better.

Describe what you hope to achieve with your project, where it will take place, who owns the location or land, what potential pitfalls you see, and how the project contributes to your neighbourhood or the city.

Upload photos of your project – at least 1, preferably 2 – that clearly show what it’s about. These images may be used to promote your project, for example on the website. If your project is related to Greening or Sports and Exercise, also include a site sketch or design. Please note the following requirements:

• Minimum size of 1 MB (for good print quality)
• Landscape orientation
• File type: JPG or JPEG
• You must have permission from the people in the photo and the photographer

Sometimes we need additional photos to assess your project properly, e.g. for specific details. If so, we’ll get in touch. These extra photos can be landscape or portrait but are only used for assessment – not for publication.

You can upload up to 5 files, with a total size of no more than 5 MB. If your photos aren’t suitable, we’ll contact you.

It’s important to ask local residents and neighbours if they support your idea. This helps everyone feel involved and avoids surprising people with unexpected decisions – especially when there are changes to public spaces, like installing a pétanque court.

You’ll find the support form at the bottom of this page. It shows who supports, is neutral, or opposes your idea. Submit the completed form with your project from 18 August.

Upload an attachment with a cost estimate for your plan. We prefer a quote to confirm the costs.

An Excel file is available to download at the bottom of this page. There’s a separate file for Greening projects.

Calculate the costs for each item, request quotes, and enter the amounts. Describe what the budget will be spent on for each type of cost and attach the quotes. Take expected price increases for next year into account, since your project will (possibly) be implemented in 2026.

• Maintenance and management costs: for 'self-management', you can include costs for tools. If you won’t manage it yourself, you don’t need to fill this out – municipal officers will estimate these costs.
• Work budget: e.g. purchasing plants or anything needed for a neighbourhood event (stall hire, stages, inflatables, etc.). Please also provide quotes.
• Personnel budget: e.g. hiring security for an event.

The municipality of Maastricht reserves 5% of the total theme budget for all projects that are eventually selected and implemented. You can apply for this additional funding during implementation if necessary.

Your project budget may not exceed 20% of the total theme budget. There’s one more condition: organisations (using eHerkenning) can receive a maximum of €45,000. Individuals (using DigiD) can receive up to €5,000. Individuals may submit a proposal that exceeds €5,000, but must secure alternative funding for the excess amount.

Projects must be carried out within 12 months of receiving funding from the Maastricht Citizens’ Budget. Indicate whether this is realistic. Also provide a preliminary schedule. Divide your project into phases and try to estimate how much time each phase will take. Enter the planning on a monthly basis.

Think carefully about what’s needed to carry out your project. Will you need volunteers? Does a technical drawing need to be made? Describe this in 250 words.

It’s also wise to complete a Permits Check to find out whether you need to apply for a permit or submit a notification. For more information, see the page Vergunningcheck | Omgevingsloket.

Farèn Sallak (Water Pas) and Cynthia Rondags (Nature Discovery Spot Terra Sigillata) had their projects selected in 2022 and implemented in 2023.

They offer the following tips:

• Request quotes from the right person or organisation.
• As the applicant, you’re responsible for obtaining any necessary permits. You can check which permits you'll need at Vergunningcheck | Omgevingsloket.
• Speak with participants from previous rounds to learn from their experience.
• Dare to dream.
• Think outside the box.
• Inform neighbours in advance and let them know where to ask questions.
• Celebrate your success!

Is your project idea about an artwork in a public space (such as sculptures, mosaics, or murals in parks and squares)? Then you must include the following in your project plan:

• The artist’s name
• The materials to be used
• Images of the desired location with exact placement
• Visual material of the artwork: a sketch, photo, or other media that the KIOR Advisory Committee (Art in Public Space) can use to base their advice on. If your project is chosen, it must be approved by this committee.

Also include the maintenance costs. As long as the artwork remains your property, you’re responsible for its upkeep and safety.

Planning a neighbourhood party, jumble sale, or other small event? You must notify the municipality. For larger events or those in central Maastricht, you’ll usually need a permit. Make arrangements in advance. If your project turns out to be feasible but isn’t selected during the final event, you can always withdraw your notification. For more information, visit the page Evenement organiseren, melding en vergunning | Gemeente Maastricht.

If your event is indoors (e.g. in a hall), the organiser must comply with the building’s use notification or permit. This includes things like maximum occupancy.

If you’re renting a property – for example from a housing corporation – and want to improve a communal area or garden, you’ll need the owner’s permission.

You cannot use multiple subsidy schemes for the same project.

Location and sketch

Think carefully about the location of your green project and make a sketch. This is essential. Use the sketch to show the intended project site and layout. Creating a sketch helps you better understand the project and explain it to others. It’s also used to estimate material, staffing, and maintenance costs.

The next step is to create a design. This is done by or in consultation with a municipal landscape architect. They specialise in designing, planning, and transforming public spaces such as parks, sports fields, and streets.

Include in your sketch:

• The current situation (elements such as trees, streets and footpaths, benches, walls, etc.)
• New features you plan to add (e.g. planting a tree in a parking bay)
• A colour legend

See below for a sample sketch.

Think about help with implementing your project

Need help with greening your neighbourhood? In June, July, and August 2025, you can book an appointment at the Idea hub. A green expert will be happy to help.

The municipality can create a technical design. For example, there are cables and pipes under a square. The technical design takes into account existing features such as lights, cables, and pipes, but also looks at where greening is possible.

Think about managing and maintaining your green project

Maintenance and management means taking responsibility and care. The municipality handles most public space maintenance. That includes paving and greenery. Some Citizens’ Budget projects involve local residents taking over maintenance responsibilities – something we encourage! But it’s important to be aware of the responsibility, care, and costs involved.

Planning to manage the greenery yourself? Make clear agreements with at least three local residents who will help manage it. Maintenance is not a solo task. Also consider who will act as the primary contact – the municipality may ask about this.

If you plan to manage public greenery, please register for self-management with Mijn Groen Maastricht via the page Zelfbeheer | Gemeente Maastricht. This prevents municipal gardeners from maintaining the area you’ve taken over.

Is your green project about changing or maintaining a section of public greenery in Maastricht? If so, you might be able to proceed directly via Mijn Groen Maastricht instead of following the Citizens’ Budget process. To discuss this, email the team at mijngroen [at] maastricht.nl

Requesting one or more pieces of play equipment? Check out the websites below. These are suppliers the Municipality of Maastricht works with. You can view their selection, make your choice, and see the prices:

• www.kompan.nl
• www.proludic.nl
• www.nijha.nl
• www.acaciarobinia.nl
• www.spereco.nl
• www.replayspeeltoestellen.nl
• www.boasspeeltoestellen.nl
• www.ijslander.com
• www.yalp.nl
• www.eibe.nl
• www.speelprojecten.nl
• www.speelmaatje.nl
• www.boerplay.com
• www.ksp-kunstgras.nl