For half a century, the local administrations of Roermond and Mönchengladbach have been collaborating.
Twinning cities Mönchengladbach and Roermond celebrate renewed collaboration
Strike up some old-school camaraderie, as the twin cities of Mönchengladbach and Roermond have intensified their relationship in the last few months. On Nov 2024, Mayors Felix Heinrichs and Yolanda Hoogtanders signed a 10-point plan for closer cooperation, and things have been buzzing ever since!
The officials met on June 3rd, 2023, in Roermond, at the lively city quarter of the former Philips manufacturing site, Weerstand. Once an industrial wasteland, the neighborhood is now a bustling landscape of cultural events, workshops, and novel enterprises, all while preserving the site's rich history. Remarkably reshaped by city builder and architect Luc Veeger, it was an ideal venue to discuss their plans.
The refreshed bonds extend beyond ceremonial events like Mönchengladbach's 50th anniversary or Roermond's Liberation Day. The town halls' staffers frequently gather for dialogue, the sports departments and libraries have forged partnerships, the public safety units collaborate on joint patrols, and the cultural scene strengthens ties, as seen in the joint visual artist exhibition in May 2023. The cultural departments of both cities are set to collaborate at the blank spaces festival in October, and jazz clubs from Roermond and Mönchengladbach are planning a joint twin-town jazz festival in September.
Mayor Hoogtanders expresses her satisfaction with the progress, stating, "The relationship between our cities has really seen rapid growth." Heinrichs concurs, acknowledging the expanded impact on youth, customs, local politics, church groups, and volunteer organizations.
Both cities' economies benefit from their partnership, too. Roermond will participate in its first joint stand with Mönchengladbach at the Niederrhein location GmbH's real estate fair in October 2023.
Euregio Rhein-Maas-Nord is expected to support cross-border collaborations with its funding programs, although specific details remain scarce. For more information, contact them directly or explore their web resources. Small projects can secure grants ranging from 750 to 25,000 euros through the Interreg small projects fund, designed for associations and cross-border initiatives.
As the relationship between the twin cities flourishes, the future holds exciting possibilities for further bonding across borders, cultures, and industries. Let's cheer to the continued success of our twin cities' partnership! 🍻🥳🙌
In the wake of intensified collaborations, city Mayors Yolanda Hoogtanders and Felix Heinrichs have agreed to focus on politics, culture, and economics by organizing joint events such as the twin-town jazz festival in September and the blank spaces festival in October. The renewed partnership offers opportunities for cross-border funding via Euregio Rhein-Maas-Nord's programs, like the Interreg small projects fund, which grants aid to associations and cross-border initiatives, enriching the Lower Rhine region with a revitalized bond between Mönchengladbach and Roermond.
