The Nij Begun insulation scheme (Isolatieaanpak Nij Begun) funds insulation and ventilation for homeowners in the province of Groningen and in the Drenthe municipalities of Aa en Hunze, Noordenveld and Tynaarlo. This article summarises the main rules as they appeared on the official Nij Begun website on 16 October 2026. The scheme is still being developed, so always check the postcode check and step-by-step plan before you sign a quote.
Important: you only receive the subsidy if the work is carried out by a company in the Nij Begun company network (Bedrijvennetwerk Isolatieaanpak Nij Begun). Heidstra Bouw is not currently part of that network. For measures funded by Nij Begun, choose a company from the official list of contractors.
Who qualifies?
The scheme is for owners of existing homes that are not yet sufficiently insulated. Your home must be in the province of Groningen or in Aa en Hunze, Noordenveld or Tynaarlo. Homes built after 2012 or still under construction do not qualify. Garages, shops and offices are excluded.
Applications open by postcode area. The postcode check shows whether your address is in the area, when you can apply and how much subsidy you can receive.
How much subsidy do you receive?
| Owner-occupier situation | Funding | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Home in the reinforcement area | 100% | €40,000 |
| Outside that area, but in the NCG reinforcement programme | 100% | €40,000 |
| Outside that area, income up to 140% of the social minimum | 100% | €40,000 |
| Outside that area, higher income | 50% | €20,000 |
If you receive 100% funding, you are also entitled to €1,000 for finishing work. Different rules apply to landlords, owners' associations and housing corporations.
There is also 30% funding for measures that go beyond the insulation standard, such as triple glazing with new frames, foam concrete and ground insulation. With an insulation plan, you also receive 30% on costs above €40,000 for work carried out from 25 December 2025.
Insulating without an insulation plan: the route under €10,000
You can apply without an insulation plan if you meet all of these conditions:
- The home was built on or before 31 December 1991.
- The home is not a listed monument.
- The measures cost less than €10,000 in total, including VAT.
- You have not previously received subsidy that required an insulation plan.
- The measures meet the scheme's technical values.
You submit a quote with your application, and the company must be in the company network. You can still have an insulation plan made later and apply for additional subsidy.
When is an insulation plan required?
You need an insulation plan if the home was built after 31 December 1991, if the measures cost more than €10,000, or if the home is a listed monument. Each home is entitled to one free insulation plan. An affiliated insulation adviser visits for about two hours to prepare it.
Which measures are covered?
Insulation (50% or 100%):
- Cavity wall insulation or an insulated inner wall
- Attic or loft insulation
- Internal or external wall insulation
- Floor insulation
- Roof insulation, for both pitched and flat roofs
- HR++ glazing without new frames, and secondary glazing
- Draught-proofing, frame panels, door insulation and insulating doors
Ventilation (50% or 100%): natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation and balanced ventilation. Balanced ventilation requires an insulation plan.
Not covered: underfloor heating, radiators, heat pumps, solar panels, roller shutters and finishing work such as painting.
Replacing window frames with Nij Begun
New window frames are not covered by the standard 50% or 100% funding, but HR++ glazing in the existing frames is. Triple glazing with new frames falls under the 30% funding for measures beyond the standard. Let the insulation plan determine whether new glass fits the existing frames or whether the frames need replacing.
Retroactive claims
If you ordered insulation work between 25 April 2023 and 3 June 2025, you can apply retroactively until 2 June 2028. For triple or HR++ glazing with new frames, and for replacing a floor, roof or facade, the order must have been placed between 25 April 2023 and 10 March 2025.
Applying, carrying out the work and payment
- Research: use the postcode check and see which funding applies to you.
- Insulation plan: have an affiliated insulation adviser prepare the plan, if required.
- Apply: you submit the application to SNN. SNN decides within 13 weeks.
- Carry out the work: after approval, you have two years to have the work done by a company in the network. Doing it yourself is also possible, using a separate catalogue and an energy coach.
- Payment: the company sends the invoice to you, you submit it to SNN, and SNN pays the company directly.
For the part you pay yourself, you can apply for a loan from the Warmtefonds. According to Nij Begun, you pay no interest on it if your income is up to €60,000.
Beware of doorstep selling
Nij Begun warns against doorstep sellers and online offers. Never sign on the spot, request several quotes and always check that the company is on the list of contractors. If you use a company that is not affiliated, you will not receive the subsidy.
Combining insulation with a renovation
Are you also planning a renovation, such as an extension, a refurbishment or wood rot repair? That work falls outside Nij Begun. Heidstra Bouw can carry out that construction work and coordinate it with your insulation company's planning, so nothing is demolished or finished twice. See our renovation and extension services, or read which national sustainability subsidies are also available.
Questions about the scheme itself? The Nij Begun customer contact centre is available on 050 316 4400 (Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 12:00) or at isolatie@nijbegun.nl.
Sources and official links
Consulted on 16 October 2026.
