Transitional scheme for book creators

As of January 2026, the new Project Grants for Book Creators scheme has come into effect, bringing with it a number of important changes, including a broader target group – such as debut authors, illustrators and graphic novelists – fixed amounts, and less emphasis on an author’s previous work. While this is a positive development for creators who were previously not eligible, the Dutch Foundation for Literature recognises that this revision may be disadvantageous for some creators who were regularly able to rely on grant support in the past. For that reason, writers who are financially worse off as a result of the new Project Grants for Book Creators scheme may be eligible for the Transitional Scheme.  

Creators who, since the launch of the former Project Grants for Publications scheme in 2013, have received at least three project grants for publications, with the most recent award having been granted after 1 January 2021. Awards made under Writers’ Lives – Biography Scheme also count. You may apply if: 

• your application under the Project Grants for Book Creators scheme has been rejected on substantive or budgetary grounds;   

• you are unable to apply under the Project Grants for Book Creators scheme because applicants may not have a subsidised project in progress where the book being written has not yet been published; 

• you have received funding under the Project Grants for Book Creators scheme, but the amount awarded is lower than what you would have received under the former Project Grants for Publications scheme and the Writers’ Lives – Biography Scheme. 

Please note: an income threshold applies of €52,500 taxable income in 2026 (in 2025 this was €47,500), including any grant awarded. 

The amount of the grant varies from one applicant to another. In the event of a rejection or a lower award under the new Project Grants for Book Creators scheme, the basis used is the highest grant awarded in the last three awards under the Project Grants for Publications scheme or the Writers’ Lives – Biography Scheme. Awards under both schemes are taken into account. This grant amount is used as the basis for the further calculations – the so-called reference amount.

If an application for a project grant is rejected, 75% of the reference amount will be awarded as a transitional grant, subject to a minimum of €12,500.

• If the grant is lower than in the past, the amount will be topped up to 75% of the reference amount.  

• If you are unable to apply under the new Project Grants for Book Creators scheme because you have an ongoing project, the grant amount under the Transitional Scheme is €12,500. 

• If you are unable to apply because of an ongoing project, but in 2025 you received a budgetary rejection under the Project Grants for Publications scheme and are now applying again for the same project, the grant amount under the Transitional Scheme is 75% of the reference amount. 

Applications may be submitted on a rolling basis via the ‘Start your application’ button at the top of this page until the scheme’s total budget available has been reached. Applications are processed in the order in which they are received. The scheme will remain open until the end of 2027. If the total budget available is reached earlier, the application portal will close.

An application must include: 

• a fully completed application form; 

• a copy of the publishing agreement with the publisher, or a letter of intent showing that the publisher is willing to enter into an agreement for the publication in question. If you are applying because of an ongoing project, a letter of intent is not sufficient: a contract is required, unless you already received a budgetary rejection for your new project in 2025;

• a copy of the publishing agreement for the most recent book publication; 

• the most recent final income tax assessment. 

Applications received will be checked for eligibility. If the applicant meets the threshold conditions set out above, the application will be taken into consideration and processed within six weeks.  

Please note: anyone applying for a transitional grant for a project may not submit a further application for that same project under the Project Grants for Book Creators scheme. A project can only be supported once. An ongoing project under the Transitional Scheme does not affect your ability to apply for a new project under the Project Grants for Book Creators scheme.  

Questions? Please contact Akane Luiken at a.luiken@letterenfonds.nl