Utrecht's subsidy for turning paved school playgrounds into greener ones has been so popular that the money for 2026 has run out. On 15 October the gemeente announced that it will raise the budget for this year and for 2027.

What the gemeente announced

A "green-blue" schoolyard, as the gemeente describes it, replaces paving stones with grass, sand, soil or wood chips, and adds plants, water features and natural play equipment. According to the gemeente, such yards invite children to play more, provide shade and cooling in warm weather, hold rainwater in the soil after heavy showers for use in dry spells, and give insects and plants more room. It notes that most Utrecht schoolyards are still mainly paved.

The 2026 subsidy ceiling has already been reached. Because the gemeente expects at least two more applications this year, it says it will raise the 2026 ceiling by €136,000 so that those can be handled. For 2027 it is raising the ceiling further. The announcement prints the increase as "168.00 euro", so the exact increase is unclear from that page. The official 2027 subsidy table lists two ceilings for the scheme: €315,000 for schools in low socio-economic-status neighbourhoods and €435,000 for all eligible schools, or €750,000 in total. The gemeente says the 2027 funding is enough for at least ten schools and bases that estimate on contacts with schools, especially in more vulnerable neighbourhoods.

The gemeente says it particularly wants to support schools in neighbourhoods with less green space, fewer places to play and smaller homes without gardens. Those schools are to receive more subsidy and more help with their applications.

How the scheme works

The rules are set out in the gemeente's published regulation on green-blue schoolyards, in force since 1 January 2025. It is open to primary and special-education schools; a separate scheme exists for secondary schools, according to the gemeente's announcement.

- **Amounts.** A fixed grant of up to €55,000 for schools in the 30 neighbourhoods with the lowest socio-economic scores, or up to €22,000 for other schools. On top of that, schools can claim an additional amount of up to €50,000, calculated per square metre at rates between €20 and €40 depending on the measure, such as depaving or disconnecting a roof so rainwater can be reused. - **Water.** The design must provide storage or infiltration for at least 15 litres of rainwater per square metre. - **Open to the neighbourhood.** The yard must be publicly accessible between 08:00 and 20:00 outside school hours, with exceptions for cases such as persistent vandalism or nuisance. The gemeente's announcement says that, where possible, children from the neighbourhood can play there too. - **Process.** Applications can be made all year but must be submitted at least 13 weeks before work starts. Money is allocated in order of receipt, and the gemeente decides within 13 weeks. Ninety per cent is paid in advance after approval.

Routine maintenance and permit costs are not covered, and the school must hold any permits needed.

What is not yet clear

The gemeente's announcement does not say how many schools have applied or been funded so far, or name them. It also does not say how much of the total 2026 ceiling was originally set. Whether the extra money will be enough for 2027 will depend on how many schools come forward; the gemeente's "at least ten schools" is a minimum estimate, not a cap.

Alderman Dennis de Vries (education) said: "In Utrecht investeren we ongelijk voor gelijke kansen", roughly "in Utrecht we invest unequally for equal opportunities". Alderman Susanne Schilderman (public space and green) said the subsidy makes schoolyards greener and more enjoyable for the children at school and in the surrounding neighbourhood.

Why it matters for residents

For families without a garden, a school playground that opens after hours can double as a neighbourhood green space. Schools interested in applying are directed by the regulation to email groenblauweschoolpleinen@utrecht.nl first, after which they are invited to discuss their sketch design within three weeks.