Awards, competitions and invitations to tender

There are awards in architecture for special projects, working with certain materials and for the work or oeuvre of a designer, team or client. In addition, there are awards and competitions aimed at the development of (beginning) designers and at choosing a design for a development or initiative.

Invitations to tender are aimed at choosing a designer, possibly on the basis of a (sketch) design. These are often official invitations from the government or government-funded parties (for example in the education, healthcare or arts sectors). An invitation to tender is bound by strict (European) regulations regarding competition.

A competition or invitation to tender may be held over several rounds in which a few designers or candidates are first selected for the following round. Sometimes, this is not public and in that case candidates are invited to participate. It is usually unpaid, although sometimes an invitation to tender includes a modest payment or fee in the second round.

Europan
In collaboration with around twenty European countries, Europan organises competitions in the field of architecture and urban development. Using a common theme, young and promising architects can come up with ideas for innovations in the area of architecture, mainly housing. Europan supports the prizewinner in securing their (often first) design commission. The competition is open to architects from all over Europe who are under 40 years of age and (in the Netherlands) who are registered in the architects’ register. 

Prix de Rome
Oldest and largest incentive award for architects (up to the age of 35) in the Netherlands. The jury of the Prix de Rome selects a number of nominees on the basis of nominations by scouts and their own entries. As part of the competition, they then create new work in a few months with a working budget and under the supervision of a coach, on the basis of which the jury ultimately awards the prizes. The eventual winner will receive € 40,000 and a working period in Rome. The prize is awarded once every four years.

EO Wijersprijsvraag
The Eo Wijersprijsvraag is a competition in two rounds in multiple study regions. The focus is on cities and landscapes.

Abe Bonnema Award for Young Architects
Biennial award for young architects - under the age of 40 - who have delivered a project in the past two years that, in the opinion of an independent, expert jury, is an achievement of exceptional, high-quality architectural quality, which will inspire future generations. The award has been awarded in even years since 2014 and consists of a cash prize of € 20,000.

Archiprix
“Up and coming talent” is often presented first via Archiprix. Each year the Dutch design schools select their best student plans for this prize. Starting point for the prize is the expectation that the participants’ talent will be an enrichment for the profession. Because there is no common assignment involved, the scale, the issues dealt with, and the method of presentation all vary according to the individual plan. A jury judges the submitted plans and awards the prizes and honorable mentions.

Archiprix International
Design courses from all over the world can propose their best final year students for the Archiprix International. The purpose of the competition is to encourage the introduction of talented designers who are setting out in the professional world. It is an initiative of the Dutch academies of architecture, urban design and landscape architecture in Delft, Eindhoven, Wageningen, Amsterdam, Arnhem, Groningen, Maastricht, Rotterdam and Tilburg.

Next Step Award
The Next Step Program draws attention to young European talent and the role of architecture for the future of the city. The program offers a platform to emerging top talent among architects, draws attention to the power of architecture and presents the Next Step Award. The award consists of an assignment and € 10,000.

BNA Best Building of the Year
BNA Best Building of the Year makes the added value of Architecture visible. Buildings with added value for the environment, user and society wins awards. BNA members, and all other national and international architectural firms, can register in four different categories.

Abe Bonnema Architecture Award
Biennial award for the architect of a building that was completed in the Netherlands in the past two years and that in the opinion of an independent expert panel performance is of exceptional high architectural quality, inspires future generations and sets an example. The award has been awarded in odd years since 2013 and consists of a cash prize of € 50,000.

De Gouden Pyramide (The Golden Pyramid)
Biennial award for excellence in commissioning work in architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, infrastructure and spatial planning. The award consists of a specially designed trophy and € 75,000.

Arc Awards
The Arc Awards are organised by the trade journal de Architect. There are different categories in which you can register.

Architectenweb awards
Every year, ArchitectenWeb presents various awards in different categories, including the one for Architect of the Year.

Ammodo Architecture Awards
Ammodo Architecture promotes and supports socially and ecologically responsible architecture worldwide. They offer various annual awards in three categories, including financial support for new projects or initiatives.

These are awards for urban planners and (landscape)architects who have made a major contribution throughout their careers to the built environment and their discipline.

BNA Kubus
The BNA Kubus is an award that has been awarded since 1965 by the Branchevereniging Nederlandse Architectenbureaus to a person or institution as a token of appreciation for a special merit for architecture in the Netherlands. It is the oldest award for an architectural oeuvre in the Netherlands.

The Big Maaskant Award
Biennial award (Grote Maaskantprijs) for one or more persons who have distinguished themselves in a special way in the field of architecture, urban design or landscape architecture by publishing, teaching and/or research activities. The award is awarded since 1978 in even years and consists of a cash prize of € 25,000 and a certificate.

Pritzker Architecture Prize
Oeuvre prize presented by the Hyatt Foundation to a living architect who has made a significant contribution to humanity and the built environment.

Various regional architecture centres and municipalities organise activities and awards. The most famous awards include:

Amsterdam Architecture Award (AAP)
Each year, this award draws attention to the best part of architecture within Amsterdam's municipal boundaries. With the Amsterdam Architecture Award, Arcam wants to stimulate public debate about architecture in Amsterdam.

Haarlem - Lieven de Key Penning
The medal is named after the first Haarlem city architect, Lieven de Key, and is presented annually by the Municipality of Haarlem to a person or organisation that has made a valuable contribution to the preservation of monuments, architecture or urban planning.

Rietveld Award
The Rietveld Award foundation awards a prize every two years to the designer who has made an important contribution to the quality of the built environment in the city of Utrecht.

Nijmegen Architecture Award
With this award, the Nijmegen Architecture Centre aims to promote the quality of architecture in Nijmegen, stimulate good clientship and bring architecture to the attention of a wide audience.

Rijnlandse Architecture Award
The Rijnlandse Architecture Award is a biennial award for the best building in the region. RAP071 has both a jury award and a public award.

Hilversum Architecture Award
The Hilversum Architecture Award is a biennial award presented by the foundation of the same name (HAP) to designers of buildings that have been completed in the past two years or that have undergone major renovations to successfully repurpose them.

Tilburg Architecture Award
The Tilburg Architecture Award is the award for the best building in the municipality of Tilburg. The award was first presented in 2024. Now the award is presented every two years.

Dirk Roosenburg Award Eindhoven
The Dirk Roosenburg Award is the award for spatial quality from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the municipality of Eindhoven. It is awarded every two years to a project completed within the boundaries of the municipality of Eindhoven. Both architectural projects (buildings) and spatial-landscape projects (parks and infrastructure) are nominated.