Adessium Foundation - Nature and Living Environment Programme

Enriched Private · Found: 2026-03-10 14:34

Dutch private foundation established by the Van Vliet family. The Nature and Living Environment programme funds marine conservation with focus on Mediterranean Sea, marine protected areas, and combating offshore oil/gas exploration. Catalyzes additional funding for vulnerable marine ecosystems.

Source: https://adessium.org/en/programs/nature-and-living-environment

Funding Details

Funder

Adessium Foundation

Funding Goal

Supports civil society organisations working to protect and restore nature, promote healthy living environments, and combat pollution. The Nature and Living Environment programme covers three themes: (1) Making room for nature in the Netherlands — biodiversity restoration and nature-inclusive approaches; (2) Healthy living environment — reducing harmful chemicals and pollution; (3) Resilient Mediterranean Sea — creating and strengthening marine protected areas, promoting sustainable fisheries, improving transparency and enforcement, and supporting advocacy coalitions for Mediterranean marine biodiversity.

Funding Amount

Multi-year core support or project grants; amounts not publicly disclosed. Foundation is strategic and makes a limited number of large, long-term grants.

Deadline

Rolling basis (invitation-only; no open calls) (Rolling)

How to Apply

Invitation-only. Adessium Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Programme officers proactively approach organisations that align with strategic priorities and invite them to submit concept notes or applications. Contact: info@adessium.org.

Target Region

Netherlands and Europe; Mediterranean Sea for marine sub-programme

Contact

Nina Koopman and Lois Schotanus, Program Managers Nature and Living Environment. Adessium Foundation, Postbus 76, 2810 AB Reeuwijk. info@adessium.org, +31 182 646 100.

Last Checked

2026-05-07 07:16

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Eligible applicants: European civil society organisations (NGOs)

Project Scope

• Must work in one of the three themes: Mediterranean marine conservation, Netherlands nature restoration, or healthy living environment (chemicals/pollution)
• Mediterranean Sea sub-programme: focus on MPAs, sustainable fisheries, advocacy, and coalition building
• Geographic scope: Netherlands and Europe, Mediterranean Sea for marine work

Required Documents

• Build relationship with programme managers Nina Koopman or Lois Schotanus before being considered

Constraints

• Invitation-only: unsolicited proposals are not accepted; foundation must proactively contact your organisation
• Foundation offers multi-year core support or flexible project grants

Summary

Adessium Foundation is a Dutch private philanthropic foundation (established 2005, Van Vliet family) that supports civil society organisations in the Netherlands and Europe. The Nature and Living Environment programme is one of three programme areas, covering three thematic sub-programmes with distinct geographic and topic foci. The Resilient Mediterranean Sea sub-programme is the marine component. The Mediterranean Sea is identified as a biodiversity hotspot under severe pressure from overfishing, intensive shipping, resource extraction, and climate change. Adessium aims to help increase strictly protected marine areas from 0.04% to the EU target of 10% by 2030. Priority activities include creating and strengthening marine protected areas, promoting sustainable fisheries practices to restore biodiversity and fish stocks, funding research/campaigns/advocacy for policy transparency and law enforcement, and supporting coalitions of environmental organisations. Current grantees include MedReAct (fisheries) and Marilles Foundation (MPAs). The Making Room for Nature in the Netherlands sub-programme supports nature-inclusive approaches and biodiversity restoration in the Dutch landscape context. The Healthy Living Environment sub-programme focuses on reducing pollution and harmful synthetic chemicals, with grantees such as CHEM Trust and Natuur & Milieu. Eligible applicants are European civil society organisations working in the above thematic areas. The foundation provides flexible, multi-year core support (general operating support) or project grants. The grant-making process is strictly invitation-only — the foundation proactively identifies and invites organisations, and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Geographic scope for marine work is the Mediterranean Sea; other programme work is Netherlands and broader Europe. The foundation operates as a strategic long-term partner, offering not just financial support but also strategic advice and network access. Given its selective and invitation-only approach, a relationship with the programme managers is the gateway to funding consideration.

Historical Context

Adessium Foundation was established in 2005 by the Van Vliet family and has been active in the Netherlands and Europe since then. It is a registered Public Benefit Organization (ANBI) in the Netherlands. Current grantees in marine conservation include MedReAct (Mediterranean fisheries protection) and Marilles Foundation (Mediterranean MPAs). The foundation is known for long-term multi-year partnerships with strategic partners.

Why it was added

Major Dutch family foundation with dedicated marine conservation programme including Mediterranean focus, MPA advocacy, and marine ecosystem protection

Sources

• https://adessium.org/en/programs/nature-and-living-environment
• https://adessium.org/en/our-approach/
• https://adessium.org/en/programs/nature-and-living-environment/resilient-mediterranean-sea/

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