Two application periods for the Subsidy regulation for social initiatives relating to the transatlantic slavery history of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom (Subsidieregeling voor Maatschappelijke initiatieven trans-Atlantisch slavernijverleden voor het Caribisch deel van het Koninkrijk) have been open since 1 April. Category 3 and 4 charities and associations can submit a subsidy application for medium-scale or large-scale social initiatives until 17:00 CET on 1 June 2026.
Categories 3 and 4 include various projects relating to the history of slavery, the organising of meetings or events to help people come to terms with our slavery past and projects in the fields of education and artistic expressions, including exhibitions and performances. The projects must benefit the (community of) descendants of enslaved people and have a(n) (lasting) impact.
Subsidy amount
The subsidy amount per Category 3 application ranges from a minimum of USD 25,000 to a maximum of USD 125,000. The amount per Category 4 application ranges from a minimum of USD 125,000 to a maximum of USD 500,000. The deadline for applications is 17:00 CET on 1 June 2026. The next time application periods will open for these categories will be on 1 April and 1 June 2027.
Background information on the subsidy regulation
The subsidy regulation is one of the measures introduced following the Prime Minister’s apology for the Netherlands’ history of slavery on 19 December 2022. A budget of well over €29.3 million is available for the subsidy regulation for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. In total there are eight application periods for four different subsidies, spread over three years.
Further information
A special Legacy to Future Funds[1] website has been set up for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. There you can find information about the subsidy regulation and a link to the Policy Implementation Unit (Uitvoering Van Beleid, UVB) website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment which is implementing the regulation[2]. A subsidy application can be submitted via the UVB subsidy portal, once you have created an account. Information about the regulation and the registration process in the application portal is available on the website in Papiamentu, Papiamento, English and Dutch.
If you have any questions, you can also chat directly with the helpdesk, which can be contacted by sending a message to +5999 563 1863. Helpdesk staff can answer your questions in Papiamentu, English and Dutch.
[1] Home - Legacy to Future Funds
[2] Subsidy regulation for social initiatives relating to the transatlantic slavery history of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom | Subsidy and regulation| Policy Implementation Unit