The Belgian Bridge programme supports collaborative investigative projects led by Dutch-speaking and French-speaking journalists residing in Belgium who work together on local issues of national importance. The aim is to produce multilingual journalism that reveals how issues arise on both sides of the language border and brings communities closer together.
Strong local journalism is a cornerstone of democratic life. It keeps residents informed about their communities and holds decision-makers accountable. Research shows that citizen participation and trust decline when local reporting disappears. Democracies also benefit when people engage beyond linguistic or geographic boundaries, reducing polarisation and strengthening civic space. This pilot programme combines these aspects by grounding journalism in local communities and connecting Belgium’s linguistic regions through joint reporting.
Projects must address an issue that is rooted in the local community but also has broader relevance beyond the community.
The grant can cover working time and expenses such as logistics, travel, insurance, access to legal support, translations, access to technology and data sets, etc.
FOR WHO
Professional Journalists
Teams must include at least one Dutch-speaking journalist and one French-speaking journalist (or bilingual journalist).
Applicants must be legally residing in Belgium.
HOW MUCH
€100,000
Total amount available per call to be distributed among all supported investigations: €50,000 per call.
The programme is supported by the King Baudouin Foundation.
NEXT DEADLINE
26 February 2026
Two application cycles are planned for this grant programme in 2026:
- Thursday, 26 February, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. CET (Brussels time).
- The next will be Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. CET (Brussels time).
How to apply?
Before you start, please consult the grant details, where you can find the rules, eligibility and assessment criteria, timing etc.
After a one-time registration with your email address, you can access our online application form. You can freely navigate through the form to see which information you need to provide in your application. This includes:
- team members' details
- information about the intended investigation
- information about the intended publication channels, including letters of intent (LOI) from news outlets
- a detailed budget, according to our budget template
You will also be asked to upload some administrative documents.
One team member can start a draft application. S/he can then invite multiple people to collaborate on the online draft. The online application-in-progress can be saved and further edited at any time.
Need help?
Take a look at our FAQ. Next, we're always happy to discuss your project ideas or to answer any questions you might have about your application. So don't hesitate to contact us via phone or mail, or to make an appointment for a video call.