European Prize 2025 for the city of Bocholt

The city of Bocholt has been awarded the European Prize 2025 by the Institute for European Partnerships and International Cooperation (IPZ) in the category "City Partnership Project".

The prize, which has been awarded for 31 years, recognises municipalities, partnership committees and other stakeholders for continuous, innovative and committed European partnership work. In addition to the certificate, first place is endowed with prize money of 500 euros for the first time. The prerequisite was a project with an encounter character from the calendar years 2024 or 2025. The city of Bocholt has already been honoured with the IPZ Europe Prize several times in the past for its European activities.

"80 years of peace and freedom" - experiencing Europe in Bocholt

The award was given for the European meeting weekend under the motto "80 years of peace and freedom" and "75 years of the European Union". Delegations from the twin towns of Bocholt (Belgium), Rossendale (Great Britain), Aurillac and Arpajon-sur-Cère (France), Akmenė (Lithuania) and Verkhniodniprovsk (Ukraine) as well as guests from the Netherlands came together in the European City of Bocholt from 8-12 May 2025. A varied programme with exhibitions, concerts, commemorative events, school formats and meeting evenings set strong signals for understanding and cooperation. "The personal exchange with our European friends was a strong sign of a living partnership - especially in the year of commemorating 80 years of peace and freedom", emphasised Petra Taubach, European Affairs Officer.

Sustainable partnership work and European values

Highlights included the cross-border exhibition "Stream of Freedom", the ceremony to mark the end of the Second World War and the Europe Day organised by the European school "Mariengymnasium Bocholt" in cooperation with EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt. The Akmenė Promenade, named after the Lithuanian twin city, was also inaugurated this weekend. Meetings with civil society and associations as well as solidarity activities in support of the Ukrainian twin city rounded off the programme. The project was co-financed by the "Europe Cheques" initiative of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.