“Allowing children to become world champions in outdoor play and sports”

The Krajicek Foundation operates a total of 129 playgrounds in forty different municipalities across the Netherlands. “A playground is a multifunctional sports field, in the public space of a priority area,” explains Gerlinde van Raalte, director of the foundation based in The Hague. “Where children can play multiple sports, such as football, basketball, tennis and nowadays more and more urban sports. The aim is to enable children to play and exercise close to home.”

As much as possible under supervision, although this is not always possible every day. “Two to three times a week there is a professional sports leader, a sports coach in the neighborhood, who provides activities there,” continues the director of the Krajčić Foundation. “What we also do is provide those playgrounds with sports equipment. And we organize a national sports event four times a year, to which we invite children from those different neighborhoods.”

The foundation also offers scholarships to young people from the neighbourhoods so they can volunteer at the various playgrounds. “They also help organise sports activities and games,” says Van Raalte. “Everything is aimed at ensuring that as many sports activities and games as possible take place in a place like this. It’s really a meeting place for these kids. Where they can enjoy sport, but also where you can develop your talents.”