Museumpark Archeon receives €500,000 Cultuurfonds loan

10/09/2026

Alphen aan den Rijn, 9 September 2026 – Within ten months, the Cultuurfonds has allocated the full €6 million available through its Cultuurfonds loan programme to eight cultural institutions, including Museumpark Archeon. “The loan to Museumpark Archeon will finance an interactive, scientifically researched reconstruction of a Roman soldiers’ barracks,” says spokesperson Monique Veldman.

The Cultuurfonds loan was launched at the end of 2025 and offers cultural institutions loans starting at €500,000 at an interest rate of 1.5%, with terms ranging from 5 to 20 years. Interest rates charged by other lenders are considerably higher. The fund operates as a revolving fund, meaning that every euro repaid by an institution, including interest, is lent out again. With loan terms ranging from 5 to 20 years and an average term of around 10 years, every euro can be reinvested two to three times over a 20-year period.

“This is a genuine impact investment. Every euro that is repaid is immediately put to work in the next project. This means the same capital can circulate within the cultural sector for decades, strengthening new plans time and again,” says Cathelijne Broers, director of the Cultuurfonds.

Veldman: “This €500,000 in financing is essential for Museumpark Archeon to realise a historically responsible reconstruction of a Roman soldiers’ barracks that will be open to the public and relevant from both an educational and scientific perspective. Building and furnishing the barracks as authentically as possible and making it accessible to the public requires substantial funding.”

Broers: “This success confirms what we have been seeing for some time: the cultural sector wants to invest and innovate, but does not have sufficient access to suitable capital.”

Today, the Cultuurfonds announced plans to increase the budget for its loan programme and is looking for partners to invest alongside it. The enormous interest from cultural institutions exceeded all expectations.

Broers: “Ten months is exceptionally fast for a new financial product. We are seeing that institutions already have well-developed, concrete plans, but have not yet been able to find suitable financing. The huge demand shows just how great the need for investment capital in the cultural sector really is. The Cultuurfonds loan meets that need and has an immediate impact.”

Eight loans across the Netherlands

Eight institutions are now making use of the Cultuurfonds loan: Atelier NEstudio’s, Museum Domburg, Museum Lalique and Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, which borrowed €1.5 million, for example, to renovate its Climate Greenhouse. The Cultuurfonds has provided NV Bergkwartier with a low-interest loan to purchase De Drie Haringen, a historic building on the Brink in Deventer. Thanks to the Cultuurfonds loan, Rialto is developing Rialto Silo, a new sustainable cinema on Zeeburgereiland/IJburg in Amsterdam East.

€10 million expansion

Following the success of the initial €6 million fund, the Cultuurfonds plans to expand the loan programme by a further €10 million to meet the high demand. The fund itself will contribute an additional €3 million. New partners can invest a minimum of €1 million for a period of 5, 10 or 20 years. Investors will receive their original investment back when they exit.

Broers: “We have shown that the model works and that there is demand. With additional capital from governments, other funds or private parties, we can develop the Cultuurfonds loan into a lasting driving force for the cultural sector, connecting, strengthening and enriching it.”

Little financial cushion

The need for sufficient financial resources in the cultural sector is urgent.

Broers: “Many cultural institutions want to grow and have ideas for innovation, but financing is where they get stuck. Costs are rising, while income from subsidies and ticket sales is not increasing at the same rate. They have very little financial cushion, while public funding is under pressure. As a result, major plans are left on the shelf, even though standing still is not an option. The Cultuurfonds loan helps institutions overcome this challenge.”

Prosperity and wellbeing

Throughout its 85-year history, the Cultuurfonds has continued to seek innovative ways to support the cultural sector as effectively as possible.

Broers: “The fact that we are now providing loans alongside grants shows that the Cultuurfonds continues to innovate. Culture brings people together, encourages reflection and drives progress. The cultural sector is essential to a resilient society and a thriving economy. Investing in culture is therefore an investment in both wellbeing and prosperity.”

About the Cultuurfonds

Every year, the Cultuurfonds invests more than €50 million in culture and nature. This funding supports around 4,000 projects across the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Cultuurfonds does this with contributions from the VriendenLoterij and Nederlandse Loterij, together with its donors, benefactors and partners.