het Cultuurfonds
Corporate brand
Unclaimedhet Cultuurfonds is a Dutch cultural fund that supports arts, heritage, science, and nature-related initiatives through grants, prizes, and other forms of cultural philanthropy.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
het Cultuurfonds is a Dutch cultural philanthropy organization supporting cultural life and conservation in the Netherlands. Its origins date to 1940, when Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands established the organization in London during the Second World War. Its initial purpose was connected to purchasing war material for the British and Dutch governments. After the war, the organization continued in the Netherlands with a different public mission: helping rebuild and strengthen cultural life. For much of its history, the organization operated under names associated with Prince Bernhard, including Prins Bernhard Fonds and later Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. Through that identity it became associated with the distribution of support to cultural projects and with the administration or sponsorship of awards for artists, writers, performers, and other cultural practitioners. Its work has covered a broad range of cultural activity rather than representing a single artistic discipline. The organization has supported initiatives connected with the visual arts, literature, theatre, music, heritage, and related areas of public cultural life. Its award activity has included the Charlotte Köhler Prize, which was established in 1988 in memory of actress Charlotte Köhler and provides incentive awards to young talent in visual arts and theatre. The awards are intended for recipients below the age of 35; the reference material describes the prize amount as €30,000 per award. The organization has also been associated with the Anna Blaman Prize, a literary award connected with Rotterdam, and with the Hendrik Chabot Prize for visual arts and the Elly Ameling Prize for music. Some of these responsibilities later moved to other organizations. The Anna Blaman Prize was transferred to Passionate Bulkboek, while the Hendrik Chabot Prize was handed over to the Chabot Museum. The Elly Ameling Prize was no longer awarded as of 2016. In South Holland, the organization continued to award the Cultuurprijs Zuid-Holland every other year. In 2023, the organization changed its name to Cultuurfonds, presented in its current public branding as het Cultuurfonds. The renaming removed the reference to Prince Bernhard after the discovery of a historical membership card indicating that he had belonged to the Nazi Party, the NSDAP. The change separated the organization’s contemporary identity from the contested historical association while preserving its role as a national Dutch cultural fund. Today, het Cultuurfonds is best understood as a grant-making and award-giving cultural institution rather than a commercial product brand. Its public-facing work is centered on enabling cultural participation, sustaining artistic practice, recognizing achievement, and supporting the wider cultural and heritage ecosystem in the Netherlands.
History
het Cultuurfonds originated in London in 1940 during the Second World War. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands founded the organization in the context of the Dutch government-in-exile and the Allied war effort. Its original purpose was to acquire war material for the British and Dutch governments. This wartime function was temporary. Following the liberation of the Netherlands, the organization continued under a cultural and reconstruction-oriented mission, supporting the renewal of cultural life in the country. In the postwar period, the organization became known as the Prins Bernhard Fonds and subsequently as the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. It developed into a broad cultural fund rather than a single-purpose foundation. Its activities included supporting cultural projects and recognizing achievement through prizes across several disciplines. The organization’s scope encompassed visual art, literature, theatre, music, heritage, and other areas of cultural activity. The fund’s prize history illustrates this expansion. In 1965, the then Prins Bernhard Fonds established the Anna Blaman Prize, a literary award for people who lived or worked in Rotterdam or maintained a close connection with the city. It also created the Hendrik Chabot Prize for visual arts and the Elly Ameling Prize for music. Over time, some awards moved outside the fund’s direct administration. The Anna Blaman Prize was transferred to Passionate Bulkboek, and the Chabot Museum assumed responsibility for the Hendrik Chabot Prize. The Elly Ameling Prize was no longer awarded from 2016. In South Holland, the fund retained responsibility for the Cultuurprijs Zuid-Holland, which is presented every other year. Another important award is the Charlotte Köhler Prize, founded in 1988 to commemorate actress Charlotte Köhler. It provides incentive recognition for young talent in visual art and theatre, with eligibility described as being below the age of 35. The reference material identifies the award value as €30,000 per prize. Such awards complement the fund’s project-support role by directing attention and resources toward emerging practitioners. The organization’s historical association with Prince Bernhard later became controversial. In 2023, following the discovery of a membership card showing that Prince Bernhard had belonged to the NSDAP, the organization changed its name to Cultuurfonds. The decision removed the princely reference from its public identity. The rebranding marked a distinction between the organization’s contemporary cultural mission and aspects of its founder’s historical record. Under the name het Cultuurfonds, the organization continues to function as a Dutch cultural fund supporting artistic, heritage, and related public-interest activity.
- 2023
Renamed Cultuurfonds
[1]The organization removed the reference to Prince Bernhard from its name after the discovery of his NSDAP membership card.
- 2016
Elly Ameling Prize discontinued
[1]The Elly Ameling Prize was no longer awarded from 2016.
- 1988
Charlotte Köhler Prize established
[1]The fund established the Charlotte Köhler Prize in memory of the actress, supporting young talent in visual art and theatre.
- 1965
Anna Blaman Prize established
[1]The then Prins Bernhard Fonds created the Anna Blaman Prize for literary figures connected with Rotterdam.
- 1945
Postwar cultural mission
[1]After the war, the organization continued in the Netherlands with the aim of helping rebuild cultural life.
- 1940
Organization founded in London
[1]Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands founded the organization in London during the Second World War to acquire war material for the British and Dutch governments.
Products and positioning
A Dutch nonprofit cultural fund positioned as a national enabler of arts, heritage, and related public-interest initiatives through financial support, prizes, and partnerships.
Award · 1988
Charlotte Köhler Prize
An incentive prize established in 1988 in memory of actress Charlotte Köhler. It recognizes young talent in visual arts and theatre, with eligibility described as being for people under 35. The reference material identifies the award amount as €30,000 per prize. The prize forms part of the fund’s effort to support emerging cultural practitioners alongside its broader grant-making activities.
Literary award · 1965
Anna Blaman Prize
A literary prize established by the then Prins Bernhard Fonds in 1965. It recognizes people who live or work in Rotterdam or have a close connection with the city. The organization later transferred responsibility for organizing the prize to Passionate Bulkboek.
Visual-arts award
Hendrik Chabot Prize
A visual-arts prize created by the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. Its organization was later handed over to the Chabot Museum, reflecting the fund’s practice of transferring individual award programs to specialist cultural institutions.
Music award
Elly Ameling Prize
A music prize associated with the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. According to the reference material, it was no longer awarded as of 2016.
Regional cultural award
Cultuurprijs Zuid-Holland
A cultural prize for South Holland that the Cultuurfonds awards every other year. It represents the organization’s regional recognition work alongside its national funding and prize activities.
Grantmaking
Cultural project funding
Grant support for cultural and related conservation initiatives in the Netherlands. The fund’s postwar role has centered on enabling cultural life through financial assistance, partnerships, and recognition rather than selling commercial products.
Controversies
2023
Controversy over Prince Bernhard’s NSDAP membership
The discovery of a historical membership card showing that founder Prince Bernhard belonged to the NSDAP prompted the organization to remove his name from its brand. The resulting change from Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds to Cultuurfonds addressed the historical association in the organization’s public identity.
Brand decisions
2023
Remove the Prince Bernhard reference from the organization’s nameStrategyBackground
The organization’s long-standing name referred to its founder, Prince Bernhard. Discovery of a membership card indicating his NSDAP membership created a reputational and historical issue for that association.
Action taken
The organization adopted the name Cultuurfonds, presented publicly as het Cultuurfonds, eliminating the Prince Bernhard reference.
Aftermath
The rebrand established a more institution-focused identity while the organization continued its cultural funding and award activities.
2016
End the Elly Ameling PrizeOtherBackground
The Elly Ameling Prize had been one of the music awards associated with the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds.
Action taken
The prize was no longer awarded from 2016.
Aftermath
The fund’s award portfolio changed, while other prizes and regional cultural recognition programs continued.
- Transfer administration of selected prizesStrategy
Background
The organization’s portfolio included awards that could be administered by specialist literary or museum organizations.
Action taken
Responsibility for the Anna Blaman Prize moved to Passionate Bulkboek, while responsibility for the Hendrik Chabot Prize moved to the Chabot Museum.
Aftermath
The awards remained connected to the Dutch cultural ecosystem under the administration of organizations with more specific disciplinary or regional expertise.
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