On 8–10 April 2026, researchers from the Institute of Economics and Rural Development of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Dr. Živilė Gedminaitė-Raudonė and Dr. Monika Belhaj, participated in the international cross-visit in the Netherlands. Together with colleagues from the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, and Sweden, they visited the municipalities of Hof van Twente, Bronckhorst, and Peel en Maas to explore Dutch practices of rural governance, community-led development, agricultural innovation, and regional cooperation.
The three-day programme focused on how rural municipalities cooperate with local communities, entrepreneurs, farmers, and regional networks to strengthen local vitality and increase resilience to social, economic, and environmental challenges. At the beginning of the visit, in Hof van Twente, participants were introduced to the Dutch governmental system and the P10 network, which brings together large rural municipalities and seeks to strengthen the liveability of rural areas at the national level.
During the programme, participants also visited an innovative organic pig farm, where sustainable agricultural practices and international learning experiences were presented, as well as the Twentewijn vineyard, which offered insights into rural entrepreneurship, local production, and the diversification of rural economies. An important part of the visit was dedicated to the Stokkum Dynamiek community initiative, demonstrating how local engagement and active participation can contribute to maintaining the attractiveness and quality of life in rural areas.
On the second day, the delegation visited Bronkhorst, known as the smallest city in the Netherlands, where examples of strengthening local identity, heritage, and community life were presented. The programme also included visits to the multifunctional community centres MFA Keijenborg and MFA Beringe Buiten, where sports, cultural, and social activities are integrated to foster social cohesion and local engagement. Considerable attention was also devoted to environmental and climate-related issues: in the Baakse Beek estate zone, participants learned about climate-resilient water management solutions, while the De Marke biobased pavilion provided an opportunity to discuss agro-innovation and sustainable resource use.
The cross-visit concluded in the municipality of Peel en Maas, where participants explored models of self-governance, the role of community initiatives in strengthening rural vitality, and took part in a working session at a historical natural site. These activities provided not only a valuable opportunity to gain insight into Dutch experiences, but also a platform for discussing solutions that could be adapted in other European countries to enhance the resilience, innovativeness, and social cohesion of rural areas.
Participation in such international visits offers an important opportunity to exchange knowledge, examine advanced governance and development practices, and strengthen international cooperation in the field of rural development. The visit was organized within the framework of the Horizon Europe GRANULAR project, which aims to better understand the diversity of rural areas in Europe and to support data-informed and place-based solutions for sustainable regional development.
More about the project: https://www.ruralgranular.eu/