Project "Grenzgeschichte(n)" receives Bocholter Heimatpreis 2025

The city of Bocholt honours the "Grenzgeschichte(n)" project with the Heimatpreis 2025. The materials developed by students at the Westmünsterland further education college to communicate regional history impressed the jury with their innovative, cross-border approach. The prize goes to project manager Miriam Pietzka on behalf of her project team, who developed the project in addition to her teaching activities.

"It is a very special project for the border region", said Mayor Christian Mangen in his welcoming speech. According to Mr Mangen, it was not easy for the jury to find a winning project due to the high quality of the applications. But in the end, the choice fell in favour of the project on the culture of remembrance.

The "Grenzgeschichte(n)" project is dedicated to this culture of remembrance in a special way. Students from Dutch courses at the Weiterbildungskolleg Bocholt developed interactive and age-appropriate rallies and digital offers for the Nationaal Onderduikmuseum in Aalten, the Netherlands, in class and in their free time together with other volunteers.

The museum deals with the period of German occupation, the resistance and the situation of the people who found refuge there during the Second World War - including many people from Bocholt. This close historical connection between the two places forms the basis of the project.

However, the comprehensive approach of "Grenzgeschichte(n)" was decisive for the victory. The project combines historical education, international cooperation and digital methods. It creates new access points for different target groups: from primary school children and young people to adult visitors, was the jury's verdict. The use of the Biparcours app enables independent exploration of the exhibition; other formats such as barrier-free offers or those in easy language as well as a planned escape game are in preparation.

Added value for the border region

The city of Bocholt also sees "Border History(s)" as a clear added value for the region. The project strengthens the Euregio identity, promotes international cooperation and relieves the burden on the volunteer-run museum team in Aalten thanks to the materials developed. Schools from Bocholt and the region are already integrating the programmes into their educational work. The result is a sustainable collaboration that extends far beyond the individual museum and is also transferable to other institutions.

"We are incredibly proud to have won the prize", says project manager Miriam Pietzka, who accepted the award at the volunteer agency this week. "It shows us that the hard work we have put into the project is appreciated", says Pietzka. The next step for the project team is to plan further steps to make the project better known and more accessible in Bocholt.