Appeltjes van Oranje: the award for social initiatives

• Stichting Social Klus (winner Stemtiendaagse)
• Trampolin pa Trabao
• Mega D Youth Foundation
• Stichting Nu De Toekomst
• Armoedecoalitie Utrecht
• Get a Grip - Humanitas Eindhoven
• Thuis in West - Krachtgezin
• Stichting Doors Wide Open
• Stek - Buurt en Lukas
• Stichting Spaarkracht

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 was 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.