After your subsidy application is submitted, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) will process the application. The RCE will check if your application has been completed and is accompanied by all the required annexes. The RCE will also check whether the costs itemised in the estimate are in fact eligible for subsidy.

Have you been asked to provide supplementary information?

Did you receive a message asking for supplementary information? That message will also state how you can submit the supplementary documentation. If the RCE receives the requested supplementary information within 4 weeks, your application can then be processed.

When will the decision subsequently be provided?

After 30 September 2026, the RCE has 22 weeks to assess all the subsidy applications. You will be notified by the end of February 2027 at the latest about whether your application has been granted or rejected.

Filing an objection

If you disagree with the decision regarding your subsidy application, you can file an objection with the Minister of Education, Culture and Science within 6 weeks. Your objection can be submitted digitally on the DUO (Education Executive Agency) website, or by post (specifying ‘Bezwaar/Objection’), addressed to DUO, Postbus 30205, 2500 GE The Hague. Clearly state what you feel is incorrect about the decision regarding your subsidy application, and why. This can be done in Dutch or in English. Include supplementary information to support your objection as needed. 

If you are unable to file an objection accompanied by substantiating information within 6 weeks, you can at least file a provisional notice of objection within 6 weeks. This only states that you are filing an objection, but does not yet specify the reasons why. By filing a provisional objection, you are requesting more time to provide proper substantiation for your objection.

The DUO website offers more information about how your objection will be addressed. You can also contact DUO’s objection and appeal department. You can contact them by email: bezwaarenberoep@duo.nl or on workdays from 09:00 to 16:00 hrs (European/Dutch time, AST+5/AST+6) on telephone: 00316-46111060.

Start of work and payment of an advance

If your application is approved, then the work must start within six months after the subsidy is granted. This deadline for the starting date will also be stated in the decision.

You can trigger the payment of the subsidy advance by notifying us that the work has started. You can notify the RCE by sending an email to subsidies@cultureelerfgoed.nl. The full subsidy amount (100%) will be paid as an advance when the work starts. This payment will be handled by the National Restoration Fund (NRF). The subsidy amounts will be granted, paid and confirmed in American dollars.