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Figures & Facts from the past 20 years of the Limburg Youth Fund for Sports & Culture | June 13, 2024

Figures & Facts from the past 20 years of the Limburg Youth Fund for Sports & Culture

On October 21, 2024, the Limburg Youth Fund for Sports and Culture will celebrate its 20th anniversary. As the Limburg Youth Fund for Sports and Culture, we have facilitated a total of 71,649 applications for 66,341 unique children over the past 20 years. This is a number we are proud of—and at the same time, in a wealthy country like the Netherlands, saddened by. Because it means that a large number of children in Limburg are growing up in families with financial worries. And this number continues to rise.

The very first Youth Fund in the Netherlands was founded in Amsterdam by Harry Postma. In his role as a social worker, he discovered the power of sports. However, for many children, joining a sports club proved to be a financial barrier. Harry Postma introduced the slogan "Every child has the right to play sports," which led to the establishment of the Amsterdam Youth Sports Fund Foundation.

The need was also recognized in Limburg: on October 21, 2004, the Limburg Youth Sports Fund (later the Limburg Youth Sports Fund) was established. In 2014, the Limburg Youth Culture Fund (later the Limburg Youth Culture Fund) was added. To reach and support more children and young people in Limburg, these funds joined forces; in 2023, they merged to form the current Limburg Youth Sports & Culture Fund.

Since then, intermediaries, ambassadors, staff, and volunteer board members have made participation in a wide range of sports and cultural activities possible. Because every child deserves it!

We will continue our commitment to supporting even more children. Because every child deserves to be able to participate and have equal opportunities. We want to thank everyone for their commitment and dedication thus far, and we count on you for the future.

Click here for the personal stories, figures and facts about the past 20 years.

Enjoy reading!

Birgit Op de Laak

Chairman of the Youth Fund for Sports & Culture Limburg