Cross-border cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands is taking center stage this winter, with two significant developments highlighting the ongoing partnership. On one hand, a new digital consultation day for family benefits is set to offer crucial support to commuters navigating the complexities of social benefits across the two nations. On the other, the Zentrum für Niederlande-Studien in Münster has welcomed four new members to its advisory board, underscoring the commitment to deeper academic and civic ties between the neighboring countries.
For families living and working across the German-Dutch border, questions around child benefit, parental leave, and related allowances can quickly become complicated. Recognizing these challenges, the GrenzInfoPunkte—a network of information centers along the border—has organized a digital consultation day on February 5, 2026. According to details released by the organizers, the event will run from 9:45 AM to 4:30 PM and is specifically tailored for cross-border commuters who have questions about family benefits in either Germany or the Netherlands.
During this online event, participants will have the opportunity to book personal consultation appointments lasting up to 45 minutes. The sessions will bring together an impressive roster of experts from both sides of the border, including representatives from the Familienkasse Rheinland-Pfalz-Saarland, border-area parental allowance offices, a Familienkasse responsible for child supplement from North Rhine-Westphalia, the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (Bureau voor Duitse Zaken), and the GrenzInfoPunkte themselves. This collaborative effort ensures that attendees can get answers to a broad range of questions, from German and Dutch child benefit schemes to parental leave, parental allowance, and child supplement.
Registration for the event is required, and the deadline is set for January 30, 2026. Organizers have cautioned that places are limited, reflecting both the popularity and the personalized nature of the service. Interested individuals are encouraged to reach out to the GrenzInfoPunkt of the Ems Dollart Region (GIP EDR) via their contact form or by emailing [email protected] with a reachable phone number. Once registered, participants will receive a link to join the video consultation at their scheduled time.
This initiative comes at a time when more and more people are living in one country and working in another, especially in the border regions between Germany and the Netherlands. With different rules, eligibility criteria, and application processes on each side, navigating family benefits can be daunting. The digital consultation day aims to demystify these processes and provide practical, up-to-date information directly from the authorities responsible for administering these benefits.
But the story of German-Dutch cooperation doesn’t end there. Just a month prior, on December 8, 2025, the Zentrum für Niederlande-Studien in Münster held a notable meeting of its Kuratorium, or advisory board. Chaired by Regierungspräsident Andreas Bothe, the session marked the formal induction of four new members, each bringing a wealth of experience and perspective to the table. According to the center’s announcement, the new members are Tilman Fuchs, mayor of Münster; Prof. Dr. Gunther de Vogelaer, director of the Institute for Dutch Philology; Lars Baumgürtel, president of the IHK Nord Westfalen; and Jens Fiege, chairman of the Kaufmannschaft zu Münster von 1835.
The Kuratorium plays a vital role in advising and supporting the Zentrum für Niederlande-Studien, which is dedicated to advancing teaching, research, and knowledge transfer concerning the Netherlands. During the meeting, Bothe emphasized the importance of member engagement, stating that the commitment of board members is crucial not only for the work of the advisory body but also for the broader relationship between Germany and the Netherlands. "The engagement of the members is essential for the work of the committee and for German-Dutch relations," he noted, underlining the far-reaching impact of such collaboration.
The inclusion of high-profile figures like Mayor Fuchs and Professor de Vogelaer is seen as a strategic move to further integrate academic, political, and economic perspectives in the center’s work. Meanwhile, the addition of business leaders Baumgürtel and Fiege reflects a growing recognition of the importance of economic ties in fostering cross-border understanding and opportunity.
Both the digital consultation day and the expanded Kuratorium are emblematic of a broader trend: the institutionalization and deepening of German-Dutch cooperation at multiple levels. While the consultation event addresses immediate, practical needs of citizens—offering clarity and support on issues that affect families’ daily lives—the advisory board’s evolution signals a long-term commitment to scholarly and civic engagement.
Such efforts are particularly significant given the historical context. The German-Dutch border, once a line of division, has become a zone of connection, with thousands of people crossing daily for work, study, or family reasons. Over the past decades, both countries have worked to harmonize regulations, streamline administrative procedures, and promote mutual understanding, but challenges remain—especially when it comes to navigating the intricacies of two distinct social security systems.
The GrenzInfoPunkte’s digital consultation day seeks to bridge these gaps. By bringing together experts from both Germany and the Netherlands, the event offers a rare chance for individuals to get authoritative answers in one place. Whether it’s understanding eligibility for Kindergeld (German child benefit), Kinderbijslag (Dutch child benefit), or other family-related allowances, participants can expect tailored guidance that takes into account their unique cross-border circumstances.
Meanwhile, the Zentrum für Niederlande-Studien’s refreshed advisory board is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of German-Dutch relations in the academic and civic spheres. The center’s activities in research and teaching not only foster greater knowledge of the Netherlands in Germany, but also serve as a model for international cooperation more broadly. The involvement of leaders from government, academia, and business ensures that the center remains responsive to the needs of both societies and is well-positioned to address emerging challenges.
As Europe grapples with questions of integration, mobility, and social cohesion, initiatives like these offer a glimpse of what effective cross-border collaboration can look like. They remind us that, while bureaucratic hurdles and cultural differences persist, the willingness to work together—whether through practical support for families or through sustained dialogue between institutions—can yield meaningful progress.
With the digital consultation day just weeks away and a reinvigorated advisory board at the helm of the Zentrum für Niederlande-Studien, the German-Dutch partnership is set to take another step forward—one that promises tangible benefits for citizens and lasting impact for the region as a whole.