Published:

June 29, 2026

DUMAVA Subsidy 2026: everything your sports club needs to know before June 1

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Published: May 26, 2026 | Category: Finance & Subsidies | Reading time: 8 minutes

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Author: NIKKI — specialist in membership fee collection and financial health for sports clubs

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Brief summary: The DUMAVA subsidy opens on June 1, 2026, and is also available to sports clubs this year. Budget: €405 million. Subsidy: up to 40% of your investment. Measures: solar panels, LED, insulation, and more. But you must first have an energy audit — here's exactly how it works.

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What is DUMAVA?

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DUMAVA stands for Sustainable Social Real Estate. It is a subsidy scheme from the central government, implemented by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), which helps organizations make their buildings more sustainable.

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What used to apply only to schools, healthcare institutions, and municipal buildings, has, since 2025, also been opened up to amateur sports facilities. And that's big news — especially now that the BOSA subsidy has been drastically cut and energy bills have become a significant expense for many clubs.

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When does DUMAVA 2026 open?

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As of May 18, 2026 , you can already prepare your draft application in the RVO portal. The official application period opens on June 1, 2026 and runs until October 16, 2026 — or earlier if the budget runs out.

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The budget is substantial — €405 million — but the application window closes as soon as the fund is depleted. Applying earlier significantly increases your chances. You can start preparing for that now.

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How much subsidy can you receive?

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The DUMAVA scheme has three levels, depending on the scope and ambition of your project. For individual measures (one to three measures, such as only solar panels or only LED lighting) you will receive 20% subsidy on the investment.

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If you opt for an integrated sustainability project where multiple measures are implemented in conjunction, the subsidy increases to 30%.

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If you implement an integrated project that also achieves high energy performance, you can claim 40% subsidy.

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This year, the minimum subsidy amount has been reduced from €5,000 to €2,500 — making it accessible to smaller clubs and more modest projects. The maximum amount is €1,500,000 per applicant per year.

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New for 2026: you may combine DUMAVA with other subsidies not originating from the central government, up to a maximum of 100% of the costs per measure. In 2025, this maximum was still 50%.

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Which measures are eligible for subsidy?

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DUMAVA covers all measures that contribute to the energy performance of your facility. For sports clubs, the most relevant measures include solar panels (in 2026, there is no longer a minimum capacity requirement), indoor and outdoor LED lighting including sports field lighting, roof insulation, facade insulation, floor insulation, and HR++ glazing. Heat pumps and energy-efficient heating systems are also eligible, as are energy advice itself and associated energy audits.

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RVO maintains an official list of measures. Consult rvo.nl/subsidies-financiering/dumava for the complete and up-to-date list.

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Who is eligible?

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You can apply for DUMAVA if your organization is an amateur sports club (not a commercial sports provider) with an SBI code on the official DUMAVA list. You apply via eHerkenning level 3 or higher.

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Your facility must be an existing building that you own — tenants and new construction projects are not covered by the scheme.

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For your project, you must have had an energy audit conducted before applying, submit it before the start of the work, and implement the measures within 24 months of approval (36 months for an integrated project).

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How to apply for DUMAVA? Step by step

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Step 1 — Have an energy audit conducted (do it now)

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This is mandatory and unavoidable. The energy audit — also known as a sustainability audit or EPA-W customized advice — identifies which measures are feasible and sensible for your facility. Good news: the costs of the energy audit are also eligible for subsidy under DUMAVA. Find a certified energy consultant; sports federations such as KNVB and NOC*NSF can refer you.

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Step 2 — Prepare your draft application (as of May 18 — now)

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Via Mijn RVO You can already prepare your draft application. You will need eHerkenning. By doing this now, you'll be ready to submit immediately on June 1st.

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Step 3 — Submit on or shortly after June 1, 2026

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The application portal opens on June 1st. Submit your application as soon as possible — although the budget is substantial, high demand could lead to an early closure of the portal. There is no lottery system like with BOSA: applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Step 4 — Receive decision and carry out work

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After approval, you have 24 months (for individual measures) or 36 months (for an integrated project) to implement the measures. RVO aims to assess applications within 13 weeks.

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DUMAVA vs. BOSA — what's the difference?

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Many clubs are familiar with BOSA but less so with DUMAVA. The difference is significant.

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BOSA is intended for construction, maintenance, and sports equipment, and had a budget of €43.5 million in 2026 — allocated via lottery, managed by DUS-I. DUMAVA specifically targets sustainability and energy saving, has a budget of €405 million, does not use a lottery system but operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and is administered by RVO via Mijn RVO with eHerkenning. As of 2026, energy projects such as solar panels and insulation no longer fall under BOSA but exclusively under DUMAVA.

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The conclusion is clear: for energy measures, DUMAVA is the designated route in 2026 — with almost ten times the budget of BOSA and no lottery.

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What does this mean for your club's financial health?

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Energy costs are one of the biggest fixed expenses for many sports clubs, alongside accommodation costs and personnel. Investing in sustainability structurally reduces these expenses: a lower energy bill every year, less dependence on energy price fluctuations, more budget space for activities and member services — and a stronger financial position without having to increase membership fees.

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However, there's a practical obstacle: the club's own contribution. If DUMAVA covers 20%, your club needs to self-finance 80%. This requires healthy cash flow and sufficient reserves.

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This is precisely where the connection to your membership fee collection lies. Clubs that fully and promptly collect their own income are in a stronger position for these types of investment decisions — and are less likely to need a loan.

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Frequently Asked Questions about DUMAVA 2026

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Is DUMAVA also for rented accommodations?

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No. You must own the accommodation to apply for DUMAVA. Are you renting from the municipality or another owner? Ask them if they can apply for the subsidy and offset the investment.

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Can I combine DUMAVA with BOSA?

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BOSA and DUMAVA cover different costs — BOSA for construction and maintenance, DUMAVA for sustainability. You can, in principle, apply for both, provided they are for different measures.

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Can I combine DUMAVA with municipal subsidies?

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Yes. DUMAVA can be combined with non-government subsidies, up to a maximum coverage of 100% of the costs per measure.

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Do I need an energy audit if I only want solar panels?

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Yes. An energy audit is mandatory for every DUMAVA application, even for individual measures. Start this as soon as possible.

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What if I don't have eHerkenning?

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eHerkenning level 3 is mandatory to log in to Mijn RVO. Apply for this in time — the application can take several business days. Visit eherkenning.nl for recognized suppliers.

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Action plan: what are you doing this week?

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If you're serious about DUMAVA, these are the three things you need to arrange right now. First: request an energy audit from a certified advisor. This takes time — start today. Second: arrange eHerkenning if you don't have it yet, via eherkenning.nl. Third: prepare your draft application on Mijn RVO. The portal opens on May 18th — get everything ready so you can submit immediately on June 1st.

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How NIKKI helps with this

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NIKKI helps sports clubs with their financial health — from collecting membership fees to financial administration and cash flow insights. We are not subsidy advisors, but we understand the financial reality of a club facing major investments.

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If you're considering a DUMAVA application, it's wise to first understand the strength of your own financial position. How much cash flow do you have available for your own contribution? How complete is your membership fee collection? Do you have a buffer to cover delayed payments?

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