The VandenEnde Foundation (VDEF) has been a driving force behind art and culture in the Netherlands for almost 25 years. Founded in 2001 by Joop and Janine van den Ende, the foundation has a clear mission: to let young people grow up in a society where art and culture are naturally present.
From personal passion to public mission
Joop and Janine van den Ende know the power of art from their own experience. Their careers in theater and television were the result of perseverance and the right opportunities at the right time. With the establishment of VDEF, they decided to pass on their passion and involvement to new generations.
Their foundation grew into one of the most important private cultural funds in the Netherlands. In over twenty years, VDEF has provided more than 1,300 contributions to creators and institutions, totaling €221 million in support. With this, the foundation has made a lasting contribution to the cultural sector and to countless careers.
Three pillars: talent, entrepreneurship, and climate
The VandenEnde Foundation translates its mission into three pillars that serve as a guideline for everything it does. Talent development comes first: annually, about fifty young creators receive a scholarship to further develop themselves, often at prestigious international programs. From dancers to theater makers, from musicians to visual artists. The foundation helps them find their way.
Additionally, VDEF stimulates cultural entrepreneurship. Creators are encouraged to think creatively about audience reach and revenue models. With initiatives like the Blockbuster Fund and support for Cultuurloket DigitALL, the foundation helps make projects bigger and find innovative ways to engage audiences.
The third pillar is strengthening the cultural climate. Through collaborations with institutions such as FOAM, Bonnefanten Maastricht, Het Nationale Ballet, and Méér Muziek in de Klas, VDEF contributes to a thriving sector where young talent can grow and art remains accessible to everyone.
“Art is not a luxury product. It is a gateway: it makes us laugh, think, and look at the world differently.”
More than luxury
For director Ronald Ockhuysen, it's essential that art is not seen as something for a select group. "Art is not a luxury product. It is a gateway: it makes us laugh, think, and look at the world differently." According to Ockhuysen, art offers people, regardless of background or age, the space to discover themselves and engage in dialogue with each other. "It can give a voice to people who fall outside the boat, or offer them an experience that might otherwise be unreachable."
This conviction makes VDEF's support extra urgent. The number of applications has increased significantly in recent years. Where five years ago twelve to fifteen applications came in per month, there are now about a hundred. At the same time, financial pressure on the sector is increasing. "There is structurally too little money, while life in the arts sector is also becoming more expensive," says Ockhuysen.
The VDEF website has stated for a while that the budget for 2025 has been spent, but applications keep coming in. According to Ockhuysen, this is understandable: "There have been cuts to art and culture for years. The pressure on the art world is unimaginably great. Private funding streams were once the icing on the cake, meant to finance deviant and new ideas. Those times are over. Cultural organizations are now also knocking on our door for structural financing. This proves once again that there is impoverishment."
Structural financing is primarily a task for subsidy providers, Ockhuysen believes. "As a fund, we want to make the wild ideas possible, because there is no budget for this at all. Plans that arise spontaneously. Or just bubble up. There must remain room for that," he says.
Looking ahead
To continue making an impact in the future, the foundation is renewing its way of working. From January 2026, creators can submit their application via FindNFund. This means immediate clarity for applicants and more time for the foundation to guide projects and develop its own initiatives. This way, VDEF remains not only a fund that responds to applications, but also an active driver of innovation in the sector.
For more information about the VandenEnde Foundation, view the profile here.
