Interreg

The project “berkeln 2018-2020” includes the structural and substantive cooperation of the German and Dutch actors and municipalities along the river Berkel. The initiators of the project on the Dutch side are the three municipalities of Zutphen, Lochem and Berkelland as well as the Waterschap Rijn en Ijssel and the Stichting Berkelfestival. On the German side, these are the districts of Billerbeck, Coesfeld, Gescher, Stadtlohn and Vreden as well as the Forum BildungsBerkel and the Regionale 2016 GmbH. In recent years, the ‘Berkel process’ has started on both sides of the border (Berkeldalproces in NL and Regionale 2016 / Berkel-AG in D). These processes should be brought together now.
In the next phase, the actors on both sides are therefore striving for intensive cross-border cooperation. First, to build up a central network along the Berkel. Second, to promote common cross-border ideas at Berkel in the following fields:

– network development at local and regional level
– work, training
– culture and tourism
– nature, landscape, environment
– structure, demography

There already exist many different activities, such as the Berkel Action Day, the Berkeldal Process and the BildungsBerkel Forum and further projects and participants along the Berkel but so far there is no central contact point that coordinates all activities along the Berkel. In order to promote the exchange, and thus learn from the neighboring country in relation to certain topics and to create synergies, these activities and actors are now linked with one another and presented to a broad public across borders by an annual Berkel Festival.
2 Berkelfestivals have already been held in 2018 and 2019 – another 2 festivals are planned for 2021 and 2022.

To project (external link)