Do you have an idea for a greener street, a meeting place, an activity for young and old, or an initiative that brings neighbors closer together? Residents can submit their ideas via the participation platform De Stem van L. Ideas that meet the conditions and align with one of the four themes – Green & Climate, Connection & Meeting, Children & Youth, and Livable Neighborhoods – will be further developed into a concrete project proposal with support from the local government.
Through an L-budget workshop, initiators receive advice on budget, planning, and practical questions. A jury of municipal employees will assess the developed projects for feasibility and compliance with the rules and themes. Approved projects will then be put to a vote by the residents of Lanaken.
Jolein Martens, alderman for citizen participation, emphasizes the importance of the L-budget: “With the L-budget, we want to encourage residents to help shape their living environment and create impact throughout Lanaken. Therefore, the distribution of the available budget takes into account a balanced spread across all sub-municipalities.”
Through a support index, projects from sub-municipalities that do not yet have a selected project will receive extra chances. This aims to ensure that at least one L-budget project is realized in each sub-municipality during this term, according to Martens.
The first edition of the L-budget already yielded valuable ideas and concrete projects, such as exercise benches in Rekem, a recreation park in Neerharen, colorful roundabouts in Lanaken, the kiosk in Gellik, and new play elements in Veldwezelt and Kesselt. With this second edition, the local government wants to give even more residents the opportunity to turn their ideas into a concrete project for their neighborhood.
Residents can submit ideas until October 31, 2026 via www.destemvanL.be/l-budget. The L-budget combines participation, neighborhood improvement, and local involvement, allowing residents not only to contribute ideas but also to help decide which projects are ultimately carried out.
