Appeltjes van Oranje: the award for social initiatives

Poverty is a persistent problem that affects people in every part of our Kingdom. Its impact is profound. Poverty is about more than a lack of money, it affects health, opportunities, and the ability to participate in society. 

Existing poverty policies are often insufficient or overly complex, leaving people without the support they need. Social initiatives are therefore essential; they work closely with people, based on understanding and trust, and respond directly to what people need.  

For the Appeltjes van Oranje 2026, the focus is on social initiatives that help break the cycle of poverty and debt in a sustainable way. Projects that not only provide support, but also strengthen people with new knowledge and skills. Initiatives that build confidence and remove barriers by working in a stress-sensitive way, or by involving people with lived experience or volunteers with a shared (cultural) background. Initiatives that open up conversations about poverty, contribute to a fairer understanding of reality, and show what becomes possible when people receive the right kind of support. 

Process

In October 2026, three social initiatives will receive the Appeltje van Oranje award. The process is as follows:  

• The first selection by the Oranje Fonds is based on the application form and organizational documents (statutes, annual financial statements, and four references from the local context, including a municipality, local initiative, and other stakeholders, etc.). We consider the aforementioned criteria as well as diversity among the selected initiatives (geographic distribution, local, national and the type of organization and approach). From all submissions, in March we select up to 40 initiatives in the Netherlands and up to 10 from the Caribbean. 
• These 50 contenders will participate in the online 10-Day Voting from May 18–27, 2026, giving them a platform and the attention they deserve. The initiative with the highest number of votes will secure the first of the 10 nomination spots. 
• Subsequently, all 50 contenders will pitch their initiatives to each other and the jury during the Appeltjes van Oranje Pitch Day in June. 
• On this day, the jury will select the remaining nine nominees, completing the list of 10 nominees: typically 8 from the Netherlands and 2 from the Caribbean. The points from the 10-Day Voting will not count on Pitch Day. The jury will base their selection on the previously mentioned criteria. 
• The 10 nominees will be visited by the Oranje Fonds in June and July. The visit to the Caribbean nominee(s) will take place immediately after the pitch day. 
• In August, the jury will select three winners. The decision will be officially ratified by the board of the Oranje Fonds. 
• All three winners will receive €25,000 and a bronze Appeltje van Oranje in October. 

The 50 contenders for 2026

10-day Voting Round  

Through the website appeltjevanoranje.nl, you can cast your vote from 18 to 27 May 2026. You can do this by: 

Clicking the voting button for the project of your choice, and  
Confirming your vote via the email you receive after clicking the voting button.  
Please note: if you have not received the confirmation email, please check your spam folder. 

All votes are registered. Once you have confirmed your vote, this will also be visible on the page of your chosen project on the voting website. 

Questions?

Do you have any questions? Check our FAQ's to see if yours is already answered. If not, feel free to email us at appeltjesvanoranje@oranjefonds.nl.