Young Europeans visit Bocholt

On Monday, Mayor Christian Mangen officially welcomed the participants of the City of Bocholt's European Youth Camp at the Europa-Haus. Under the motto "Fit for Europe 2026 - Sport, Health and Cooking in the European City of Bocholt", young people from six European countries are spending a week together in Bocholt from 19 to 26 July.

The young people come from our twin towns and partner cities: Akmenė in Lithuania, Aurillac in France and Rossendale in the UK, as well as from the Netherlands and Bocholt. For the first time, a youth group from Huelva in Spain is taking part in the camp. ""I am delighted to welcome so many young people here today from our twin towns and partner cities, as well as from Bocholt. You bring your ideas, your cultures and your perspectives with you - that is exactly what Europe thrives on"," said Mayor Christian Mangen at the reception.

Bocholt shares a special history of migration with Huelva. The first Spanish guest worker to come to Bocholt was from that Spanish city; he later co-founded the Spanish Cultural Association, the predecessor of today's Centro Cultural Español de Bocholt e. V. Juan Lopez Casanava, Chair of the Committee for Equal Opportunities and Integration of the City of Bocholt, therefore also attended the reception. The committee also provides financial support for the participation of young refugees and young people with an international family background, thereby enabling them to play an active role in this European exchange.

During the camp week, the young people will be working in international groups on sport, health and balanced nutrition. The programme includes, amongst other things, intercultural cooking and sports workshops, team-building activities at the climbing park, visits to the German Football Museum in Dortmund and the German Sport and Olympic Museum in Cologne, as well as an excursion focusing on food security, water and nature. EUROPE DIRECT Bocholt provided information on the "EU4health" programme. A city treasure hunt, the ceremonial presentation of the Youth Passes and a public final presentation round off the programme.

Funding note: The European Youth Camp is funded under the EU's Erasmus+ Youth programme and co-financed by the European Union.