Are you a legal person or entity?
Eligible legal entities are: municipalities, farmers, NGOs, foundations, or registered companies. Informal groups or individuals without legal personality cannot apply.
Have you already received funding for two granted Sponge projects?
Each applicant can receive funding for a maximum of 2 granted Sponge projects. If you have already been funded, you are not eligible to apply again.
Is your project located within the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (NL-BE-DE)?
The eligible area is the territory of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine which covers Provincie Limburg (BE), Province de Liège (BE) incl. the German speaking community, Region Aachen Zweckverband (StädteRegion Aachen, Kreis Euskirchen, Kreis Düren and Kreis Heinsberg, DE) and the southern half of Provincie Limburg (NL).
StädteRegion Aachen (DE)
Aachen, Alsdorf, Baesweiler, Eschweiler, Herzogenrath, Monschau, Roetgen, Simmerath, Stolberg, Würselen
Kreis Düren (Aachen region) (DE)
Aldenhoven, Düren, Heimbach, Hürtgenwald, Inden, Jülich, Kreuzau, Langerwehe, Linnich, Merzenich, Nideggen, Niederzier, Nörvenich, Titz, Vettweiß
Kreis Euskirchen (Aachen region) (DE)
Bad Münstereifel, Blankenheim, Dahlem, Euskirchen, Hellenthal, Kall, Mechernich, Nettersheim, Schleiden, Weilerswist, Zülpich
Kreis Heinsberg (Aachen region) (DE)
Erkelenz, Gangelt, Geilenkirchen, Heinsberg, Hückelhoven, Selfkant, Übach-Palenberg, Waldfeucht, Wassenberg, Wegberg
Kreis Vulkaneifel (DE)
Daun, Gerolstein, Hillesheim, Kelberg, Obere Kyll
Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm (DE)
Arzfeld, Bitburg, Bitburger Land, Prüm, Speicher, Südeifel
German-speaking Community (Ostbelgien) (BE)
Amel, Büllingen, Burg-Reuland, Bütgenbach, Eupen, Kelmis, Lontzen, Raeren, Sankt Vith
Arrondissement of Huy (Province of Liège) (BE)
Amay, Anthisnes, Burdinne, Clavier, Engis, Ferrières, Hamoir, Héron, Huy, Marchin, Modave, Nandrin, Ouffet, Tinlot, Verlaine, Villers-le-Bouillet, Wanze
Arrondissement of Liège (Province of Liège) (BE)
Ans, Awans, Aywaille, Bassenge, Beyne-Heusay, Blégny, Chaudfontaine, Comblain-au-Pont, Dalhem, Esneux, Flémalle, Fléron, Grâce-Hollogne, Herstal, Juprelle, Liège, Neupré, Oupeye, Saint-Nicolas, Seraing, Soumagne, Sprimont, Trooz, Visé
Arrondissement of Verviers (Province of Liège) (BE)
Aubel, Baelen, Dison, Herve, Jalhay, Lierneux, Limbourg, Malmedy, Olne, Pepinster, Plombières, Spa, Stavelot, Stoumont, Theux, Thimister-Clermont, Trois-Ponts, Verviers, Waimes, Welkenraedt
Arrondissement of Waremme (Province of Liège) (BE)
Berloz, Braives, Crisnée, Donceel, Faimes, Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher, Geer, Hannut, Lincent, Oreye, Remicourt, Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse, Waremme, Wasseiges
Arrondissement of Tongeren (Province of Limburg) (BE)
Alken, Bilzen-Hoeselt, Heers, Herstappe, Lanaken, Maasmechelen, Riemst, Tongeren-Borgloon, Voeren, Wellen
Arrondissement of Hasselt (Province of Limburg) (BE)
As, Beringen, Diepenbeek, Genk, Gingelom, Halen, Hasselt, Herk-de-Stad, Heusden-Zolder, Leopoldsburg, Lummen, Oudsbergen, Sint-Truiden, Tessenderlo-Ham, Zonhoven, Zutendaal
Arrondissement of Maaseik (Province of Limburg) (BE)
Bocholt, Bree, Dilsen-Stokkem, Hamont-Achel, Hechtel-Eksel, Houthalen-Helchteren, Kinrooi, Lommel, Maaseik, Peer, Pelt
Arrondissement of Leuven (Province of Flemish Brabant) (BE)
Aarschot, Begijnendijk, Bekkevoort, Bertem, Bierbeek, Boortmeerbeek, Boutersem, Diest, Geetbets, Glabbeek, Haacht, Herent, Hoegaarden, Huldenberg, Keerbergen, Kortenaken, Kortenberg, Landen, Leuven, Linter, Lubbeek, Oud-Heverlee, Rotselaar, Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, Tervuren, Tielt-Winge, Tienen, Tremelo, Zoutleeuw
South Limburg (NL)
Beek, Beekdaelen, Brunssum, Eijsden-Margraten, Gulpen-Wittem, Heerlen, Kerkrade, Landgraaf, Maastricht, Meerssen, Simpelveld, Sittard-Geleen, Stein, Vaals, Valkenburg aan de Geul, Voerendaal
Central Limburg (NL)
Echt-Susteren, Leudal, Maasgouw, Nederweert, Roerdalen, Roermond, Weert
Southeast Brabant (NL)
Asten, Bergeijk, Best, Bladel, Cranendonck, Deurne, Eersel, Eindhoven, Geldrop-Mierlo, Gemert-Bakel, Heeze-Leende, Helmond, Laarbeek, Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten, Oirschot, Reusel-De Mierden, Someren, Son en Breugel, Valkenswaard, Veldhoven, Waalre
Can the project be completed by 30 June 2028?
As the Sponge programme ends in September 2028, all activities financed by the Voucher scheme must be completed by 30 June 2028. This includes obtaining permits, implementation of measures in the field and final reporting.
Can you cover 50% co-financing (min. 20% own/private, max. 30% non-EU)?
The voucher covers up to 50% of eligible costs. You must provide matching funds: at least 20% from own resources or private financing, and no more than 30% from other non-EU public sources.
Is this project exclusively funded by the Sponge voucher (no other EU funding)?
The same project activities cannot receive funding from multiple EU programmes. If you are already receiving EU funding for this work, you cannot apply for a Sponge voucher.
Does your project focus on implementation in the field?
Sponge supports implementation of Nature based Solutions (NbS) measures in the field. Therefore, external consultancy and advisory services may not exceed 20% of the total project budget. In this way we can ensure that most of the funding goes towards tangible Sponge landscape measures.
Need help?
If you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to contact us.