Brussels Airport is continuing its efforts to become more environmentally friendly and has launched a new call for projects to support local initiatives that benefit both people and nature.
Now in its fourth year, the Brussels Airport Fund is inviting applicants to submit their ideas by 16 September 2026 for a chance to receive financial support of up to €10,000.
Since its establishment in 2023 by Brussels Airport and management by the King Baudouin Foundation, the fund has supported 42 projects, totalling €362,000.
Applications for the 2027 grants are open to organisations with projects that benefit the community and/or the environment. Schools, sports clubs, NGOs, neighbourhood associations, and youth groups can all apply as long as their projects demonstrate a positive impact on areas such as nature, the environment, social cohesion, green mobility, circularity, energy, or a combination of these.
The only requirement is that the project must be distinct from the applicant’s regular activities. For instance, a school could not apply for funding to cover the costs of its regular lessons or maintenance work, but it could submit a project proposal to establish a community garden, launch a biodiversity initiative or develop a circular economy programme involving pupils and local residents.
Previous beneficiaries include Nido in Haren, an inclusive care garden which used its grant to install mobile relaxation areas and build a terrace where people with reduced mobility can enjoy a coffee break during vegetable gardening workshops.
Another supported initiative is the Borrekensveld neighbourhood park in Grimbergen, which opened in 2025. Designed with local residents in mind, the recreational area has been completely revamped and transformed into a sustainable green space that is accessible to people of all ages.
Once the application period closes, an independent jury will analyse all submissions and select the winning projects. However, the beneficiaries will have to wait until early 2027 to receive the good news.
This initiative comes as Brussels Airport continues to invest in its long-term development. Following record revenues of €828 million in 2025, a 6% increase on 2024, the airport announced €302 million in infrastructure investments, including projects aimed at improving sustainability and ensuring the long-term viability of its operations.
Beyond the Brussels Airport Fund, the airport has also adopted more unconventional methods to support biodiversity. Since 2019, for example, a flock of around 200 sheep has been brought in every summer to act as natural lawnmowers, maintaining the grass-covered noise barriers that protect Steenokkerzeel residents from noise pollution.
This approach helps to manage the airport’s grassland verges in a more ecological way than traditional mowing and encourages long-term biodiversity. In 2024, the flock grazed through 18,500 square metres of land, the equivalent of almost three football pitches, in just two weeks.
With safety in mind, the airport’s “loyal friends”, as they were referred to in a social media post, only graze outside the secured area of the airport, far from the tarmac and aircraft operations.
