No sequel Fryslan Ferbynt, why?

Source: Leeuwarder Courant online 29 July 2025. Photo: Anjo de Haan
The first Fryslân Ferbynt-dei on 22 June 2024 was successful. Yet the new celebration and recruitment day for the Frisian volunteer will not get a sequel this year. Why not?

Put your association or foundation in the limelight in a relaxed, festive atmosphere with a bite to eat and a drink. As a tribute to the Frisian volunteer and with the aim of recruiting new volunteers.

That was the underlying idea of the Fryslân Ferbynt-dei, an idea of deputy Sijbe Knol (FNP). It became a new part of liveability fund IMF (Iepen Mienskips Fûns) with an annual budget of 250,000 euros. Five hundred clubs could apply for 500 euros each.

On 22 June, the first edition took place with 284 participating foundations and associations. Ten applications were not honoured and 10 boards repaid the 500 euros because they opted out anyway.

Participants enthusiastic, 211 new volunteers

So although it did not storm with applications, the province speaks of a success. The participating boards praised the initiative and a total of 211 new volunteers were recruited. The majority of the boards made it clear that they wanted to participate again this year. Much was achieved with a relatively modest budget, the province proudly concludes in the evaluation.

No second edition this year

Yet there was no second edition this year. Why not actually? According to the province, because the implementation turned out to be much more labour-intensive than expected. Some 950 official hours were involved. That is actually a bit too much of a good thing, concluded Gedeputeerde Staten.

Teaming up with Orange Fund

For this reason, the choice was made to explore with the Oranjefonds, the social fund dedicated to foundations and associations. A well-known initiative is NLdoet, the largest volunteer action in the Netherlands held annually in March. It is now being explored to join forces with the Oranjefonds for the 2026 and 2027 editions to learn how this fund efficiently assesses applications.

By the end of this year, the province aims to have completed the exploration. The money saved for the Fryslân Ferbynt-dei is now available for the IMF's liveability projects.

CDA MP Karin van der Velde, critical of the initiative at the time, regretted the messy start. ,,I think it is a pity that it is now skipped a year. This does not give the holiday a structural character. I have trouble with one-day events: one year this, the next year that. If you launch something new, go for recognisability."