Nordhorn in April 2026 – Retrospective and Outlook

What was important this month

• The Childcare Facility Demand Plan until 2032/33 was unanimously adopted.
• The Skateboard Association receives support by evaluating potential locations and covering rental costs.
• The Nordhorn-Pass is being further developed: A working group has been established for transparent contribution calculations.
• The New Multi-Use Hall at the Sports Park plans to include a trampoline and paddle area – unanimously approved.
• Digitization and financial planning are being advanced: A decision was made to halve the remaining budget expenditures by 2028.
• A CamperClean cleaning station for the campervan parking area is being examined – with a focus on funding opportunities.

Childcare Facilities, Skateboarding, and Inclusion

April focused on topics in the areas of social affairs, youth, and education. The Committee for Social Affairs, Youth, Integration, Safety, and Order unanimously acknowledged the Childcare Facility Demand Plan until 2032/33. The forecast shows a reduction of approximately 60 children in the 2024/25 cohort, with an average expectation of 510 children per cohort. Currently, there are waiting lists with a total of 292 available spots.

Another important topic was the support for the association Nordhorn Skateboarding e. V. The committee decided to commission the administration to evaluate the citizens’ forum’s application for rental cost coverage. The possibility of using the old weaving mill is being considered, although extensive structural measures would be required. Alternatively, a reversible modular floor is being discussed. In addition, a participatory process including a public survey is ongoing.

The Nordhorn-Pass, which was issued 1,544 times in 2025, is to be further developed. A working group will be established to calculate contributions more transparently and to promote inclusion.

Urban Development and Leisure: Multi-Use Hall and CamperClean

The Urban Development Committee unanimously approved the presentation of the planned design for the new multi-use hall at the Sports Park. The hall will cover 4,500 square meters and will include space for trampoline and paddle areas, catering facilities, and expansion options. The planning will not have any financial impact on the city budget.

The Committee for Economy and Tourism decided to examine the installation of a CamperClean cleaning station at the existing campervan parking area. The investment costs for a basic unit range between €16,000 and €20,000, with a payback period of 10.6 years. In addition, it is being assessed whether funding can be used for this purpose.

Budget, Digitization, and Financial Policy

The Finance Committee acknowledged the preliminary annual financial report for 2025. The balance sheet rose to €465.1 million, with an equity ratio of 88.9%. A management plan to halve the remaining budget expenditures by 2028 was unanimously approved. The remaining expenditures decreased from €31 million to €29.09 million, with €5 million already spent by March 2026.

Digitization of the administration is continuing. Among other things, a digital building permit procedure has been introduced, which saves costs and increases efficiency. The digitization of the residence registration and the new document management system are also part of the progress.

Overview and Outlook

April 2026 was marked by a balance between social and infrastructural topics. The discussions on childcare facilities and inclusion show how responsive the city of Nordhorn is to the needs of its residents. At the same time, important urban development projects were advanced to increase the city's attractiveness. Financial consolidation remains a central challenge, but the adopted measures show that Nordhorn remains on a sustainable course.

In the coming weeks, it will be particularly interesting to see the results of the survey on skateboard locations and what solutions emerge from the planning workshops. In addition, the development of the CamperClean station and potential improvements in mobile phone coverage will be monitored.