Applications for the Bocholt 2025 Heimatpreis now open
Bocholt - Organisations and initiatives in Bocholt can now apply for the "Heimatpreis 2025". With the prize, which is endowed with 5,000 euros, the city of Bocholt is honouring the NRW state programme "Heimat. Future. North Rhine-Westphalia programme. We promote what connects people" to honour special volunteer work. The closing date for applications is 30 October 2025.
The Heimatpreis honours projects that preserve, shape and secure the homeland for the future. "Homeland grows from below - this year's guiding principle is that we in Bocholt also want to strengthen local commitment and honour innovative projects worthy of emulation", explains Christian Tewiele, Head of Pensions, Senior Citizens, Care and Volunteering at the City of Bocholt.
All associations and initiatives in Bocholt can apply - with completed, ongoing or planned projects. Among other things, the significance for the city, co-operation with third parties and the innovative power of the ideas will be assessed. Organisations that have already won a local award at city, district or state level are not allowed to take part. The aim is to give as many Bocholt initiatives as possible the chance to receive funding.
"The Heimatpreis shows how diverse and lively voluntary work is in Bocholt", emphasises First City Councillor and Head of Cultural Affairs Björn Volmering. "Many projects contribute to strengthening our city as a home in the best sense of the word - with tradition, innovation and a great deal of passion. We want to make this commitment visible and honour it."
A jury will decide on the applications received. It is made up of representatives from the City of Bocholt's culture, education and social affairs departments, as well as one member from each of the council groups and an advisory member from Volksbank Bocholt and the volunteer agency. The award ceremony is planned for the end of 2025.
The application form is available online at wir-fuer-bocholt.de/heimatpreis .
Applications must be submitted by 30 October 2025 (the postmark or email receipt counts) to
City of Bocholt - Social Affairs Department
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Str. 52-58, 46395 Bocholt
E-Mail: christian.tewiele(at)bocholt(dot)de
Christian Tewiele, Head of Pensions, Senior Citizens, Care and Volunteering, will be happy to answer any questions on (02871) 953-2344.
Previous winners of the Heimatpreis:
Since the competition was introduced in 2019, numerous Bocholt-based associations and initiatives have already been honoured with the Heimatpreis. The village community of Mussum e.V. kicked off the competition in 2019 with the Bocholt City Heritage Prize, while the Suderwick Heritage Association and the citizens' initiative "Dinxperwick" received the NRW State Heritage Prize in the same year. In 2020, the citizens' association Biemenhorst e.V. followed with the city's Heimatpreis, and the Pro Barlo e.V. association was honoured at district level. In 2021, the Bocholt Heimatpreis went to the Förderkreis Bocholter Handwerksmuseum e.V., while the Berufskolleg am Wasserturm received the Borken district's Heimatpreis with the "Make a Difference" project. In 2022, Dochdu Kult & Co was the winner, followed by the youth farm "Mit Dir" in 2023 and finally the Makerspace Bocholt in 2024, each of which won the Bocholt Local Heritage Award. Also in 2024, the Förderkreis Bocholter Handwerksmuseum e.V. was able to impress once again - this time by winning the Heimatpreis of the state of NRW.
Press contact:
City of Bocholt - Bicycle-friendly city in Münsterland, City of Bocholt, Mayor's Office, Press and Information Service, Tobias Rodig, tobias.rodig(at)bocholt(dot)de