Toekenner

Toekenner is a Dutch noun that designates a person or institution that grants or awards something, such as a subsidy, license, right, prize, or certificate. It is formed from the verb toekennen (to grant, award, allocate) with the agent noun suffix -er. The related noun toekenning refers to the grant or allocation itself. In English, the term is often translated as grantor or awarding authority, though those equivalents may not capture all Dutch nuances.

Usage and context: The toekenner appears mainly in formal, bureaucratic, or legal texts. It denotes the authority or body authorized to decide and confer subsidies, permits, or rights. In corporate or nonprofit documents, the toekenner is the designated awarding body. In everyday language, more common terms include subsidieverstrekker (subsidy provider) or granting authority, so toekenner is comparatively formal and specialized.

Examples: A government agency can be described as the toekenner of a grant or subsidy. The toekenner kent de subsidie toe aan het project, meaning the subsidy is awarded by the granting authority to the project. In legal documents, you may see phrases like “de toekenner van de vergunning” (the granting authority of the license).

Related terms: toekennen, toekenning, subsidieverstrekker, grantor, awarding authority. See also: subsidy, license, permit, grant.