The Assink Lyceum from Haaksbergen and the Anne Frank-Realschule from Ahaus are the winners of the 2026 People-to-People-EUREGIO prize. The award recognizes Dutch-German projects that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to cross-border cooperation. The schools won the prize for their joint activities commemorating 80 years of peace.

The Assink Lyceum and the Anne-Frank-Realschule have been working together for peace and freedom for several years. In 2025, for instance, they jointly organized the commemorative meeting for 80 years of peace and freedom in Ahaus and laid wreaths together in Haaksbergen on May 4.

Every year, the schools visit the Nationaal Onderduikmuseum in Aalten together. On April 16, students from both schools were at the museum, where they were received by Andreas Bothe, Regierungspräsident of the Bezirksregierung Münster. He spoke words of praise regarding the joint activities, which provide new momentum to the culture of remembrance while simultaneously sending a signal against xenophobia and intolerance. He thanked the students for their cross-border cooperation and joined them for a guided tour that focused on exchanging perspectives on choices and dilemmas from both the past and the present.

The Assink Lyceum from Haaksbergen and the Anne-Frank-Realschule from Ahaus in front of the newly acquired building at Markt 18, on the Markt in Aalten.

Andreas Bothe, District President of the Münster regional government, passes through the secret passage to the hiding attic