What are the rules?

These are the main differences compared to 2024.

• The ‘Arts, culture and associations’ theme has been split into 2 separate themes: Arts and culture and Community associations.
• Each person or organisation may submit only one project (in 2024, it was up to 3).
• A project may cost no more than 20% of the theme’s total budget (in 2024, this was a maximum of €100,000).
• A maximum of 5% of the budget may be reserved for unexpected costs (in 2024, this was 10%).
• The bank account must be registered in the name of the applicant.
• You must include a quote to support your budget.
• If using a professional for guidance, the hourly rate must be no more than €50 (social tariff), and total guidance costs must not exceed 20% of the total project budget.
• A distinction is made between maintenance by the neighbourhood/initiator and maintenance by the municipality.
• The project must be free and open to the public.
• Projects may not involve mechanical or technical installations in public space (such as electric cabinets, water taps, or pump systems).
• If a project has already been rejected or selected in a previous edition, it may not be submitted again.
• Citizens’ Budget funding is not intended as ongoing structural funding.
• Projects that are mainly commercial or for personal profit will not be accepted. 

Anyone can submit a project—individuals as well as legal entities like associations or foundations. There’s no age limit, and you don’t have to live in Maastricht—as long as your idea benefits people in the city and fits within 1 of the 5 themes.

Associations with legal status and members must submit their ideas under the Community associations theme. See the Themes and budgets page for more details. 

You can submit your idea for Burgerbegroting Maastricht 2025 from 18 August to 14 September 2025. 

Yes, in principle you do. We expect initiators to develop and carry out their project themselves. In some exceptional cases, the municipality or another party may carry it out—but only by agreement.

You can submit your project online through Maastricht’s digital subsidy portal. You’ll need a DigiD to log in.

Are you submitting a project proposal on behalf of an organisation? Then log in with eHerkenning, reliability level 2+. Have you not yet applied for reliability level 2+? Then apply for it on time via www.eherkenning.nl. The application can take up to 2 weeks. 

To be eligible, a project must:

• Fit 1 of the 5 themes.
• Benefit residents of Maastricht.
• 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 it’s for a smaller or closed group, you’ll need to justify this clearly.
• Be a new or additional activity—not a repeat of a past Citizens’ Budget project.
• Cost no more than 20% of the theme’s total budget. Note: organisations can receive a maximum of €45,000 (log in with eHerkenning). Individuals can receive a maximum of €5,000 (log in with DigiD). You can request more than €5,000 as an individual, but the remainder must be financed from another source.
• Be carried out within 12 months of receiving funding.
• Include:
  • A clear explanation of how the project supports one of the five themes
  • A plan of action
  • A timeline
  • A detailed budget

See the General Regulations for the full list of requirements. 

Each person or organisation 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, realistic within one year, and doesn’t clash with ongoing plans. You’ll 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. 

We don’t support projects that are mainly commercial, political, or religious in nature, or that appear designed to generate profit for the initiator. Projects that already receive municipal funding, or whose main goal is fundraising or product sales, will not be considered. See the General Regulations for more details.

After voting takes place (round 3), the selected projects must be completed within 12 months of receiving funding. The vote includes both an online round and a final in-person event. 

For projects in public spaces with a clear impact on the local area, you’ll need to show that people support your idea. This is called a support check.

You can download the support check form from the Downloads section. Use this to record whether nearby residents are for, against or neutral about your idea. Upload the completed form when you submit your project.

In January 2026, you’ll be able to vote for your favourite Burgerbegroting projects—both online and at the final event.