Located directly on the Dutch border, the town of Vreden covers an area of 135 square kilometers. Its approximately 23,000 residents live not only in Vreden itself, but are also spread across five parish villages and five rural communities.
Vreden has made it its goal to reach out to and engage all children and young people. With its JugendCampus, the city is sending a strong message in support of modern youth work. It serves as the central hub for children and young people to meet and get involved.
With the JugendCampus, Vreden is reaching out to a target group that is underrepresented in many family policy initiatives. The digital infrastructure, community involvement, and links to education and careers make the project a pioneer in municipal youth work—and that’s what convinced the jury. For this, Vreden was awarded the 2025 State Prize for Family-Friendly Municipalities in the category “Individual Family Policy Project.”
Here, we introduce you to the Vreden Youth Campus. Further information on this and on the State of North Rhine-Westphalia’s Award for Family-Friendly Municipalities can be found in the sidebar.
The Vreden Youth Campus is the heart of youth work—a modern venue for experiences and personal development for children and young people ages 8 to 21. A wide variety of activities for young people take place here. One special feature is the dedicated shuttle bus that brings young people from the surrounding villages and hamlets to the JugendCampus and back home again.
Activities offered by the JugendCampus Vreden include:
The JugendCampus is also available online: Using the JugendCampus app, children and teens can book activities on their own. In addition, local clubs as well as training and internship opportunities in the area are just a click away.
You can find information about all activities and facilities here.
The cities of Siegen, Lennestadt, and Nettersheim were also recognized either for their comprehensive family policy plans or for an innovative individual project.
