What is Leader?
Leader is a European subsidy programme for a vital, future-proof countryside. It is a subsidy scheme intended for projects aimed at strengthening the rural area, by maintaining the liveability of the countryside, strengthening social cohesion, and maintaining/strengthening the level of facilities.
The four municipalities of Goeree-Overflakkee, Hoeksche Waard, Nissewaard and Voorne aan Zee have been designated by the province of South Holland as a Leader area “South Holland Islands”. There is a committee, composed of representatives of organizations from the area, the municipalities and the water board, that stimulates and assesses projects. In Leader terms, this committee is called the Local Action Group (LAG). It does this on the basis of the Local Development Strategy (LOS). In this, the strengths and weaknesses and the development opportunities have been identified.
Derived from the overarching theme of “rural development”, four pillars are mentioned in the LOS. These are:
- Stimulate innovation in agriculture, also to make the countryside more attractive.
- Expand and renew tourist and recreational facilities in rural areas.
- Development of a sustainable and biodiverse landscape.
- Stimulating sustainable development with regard to liveability and climate.