Capturing cultural identity in Friesland
By The Holland Times Friday 11 December 2009, 11:12
The Frisian flag is instantly recognisable with its blue and white stripes and red hearts. It represents a province that has a strong culture and its very own language, Frisian, recognised by the Dutch government as the second official language of the country. But there is more to Friesland than just a language and a special flag; there is pride that runs deep.
A minority language
While Frisian is not as widely spoken as other minority languages of the world, such as Catalan, Basque, Welsh or Galician, more than 90% of Friesland’s inhabitants understand the language, 65% can speak the language, and 50% of the population, are native speakers, according to figures from the Friesland Academy. Although it is difficult for a minority language such as Frisian to survive, the use of the language continues to increase.
The growing interest in the language seen over the past few years is due in part to marketing campaigns. One of Friesland’s most famous hometown stars, supermodel Doutzen Kroes, is the face behind the language campaign “Praat mar Frysk” (Speak more Frisian). Born in the village of Eastermar, she is now a resident of New York City, and serves as a role model to some Frisians. She also proudly speaks Frisian.
The government has also played a role in keeping the Frisian language alive. In 1980, it became obligatory to teach Frisian in schools. Like all Dutch children, Frisian children are also taught English in primary school, which means that a portion of the school children attend trilingual schools, and the number of trilingual schools is growing.
The province also has its own broadcast company, Omrop Fryslân, which creates Frisian-language programmes for radio and television. It is one of only two broadcasting stations in the Netherlands that does not broadcast in Dutch (the other being West International). The broadcasting company produces 17 hours of radio and two hours of television programmes per day, and each Sunday they broadcast a 1-hour documentary on national channel Nederland 2. They also make programmes for schools and are the emergency broadcaster for the province of Friesland.
“Once a Frisian, always a Frisian”
Traditionally, Frisians have a strong bond with their heitelân (native country). This remains true also of Frisians who have moved outside of Friesland, many of whom immigrated abroad to the US, Canada and Australia. Although far from home, they still feel very connected with the people, which is the reason behind the creation of Fryslân Ferbynt (Friesland Connects). Launched in 2007, the organisation reaches out to anyone with a connection to Friesland.
Fryslân Ferbynt was inspired by a reunion that took place in 2000, during which 70,000 Frisian emigrants returned to Friesland. The reunion showed the immense connection that Frisians continue to feel for the region and its culture, even after moving abroad.
Project Leader Sjoerd Radersma describes Fryslân Ferbynt as a foundation for entrepreneurs and private individuals. “It’s like Hyves and Linked In together,” says Sjoerd. By connecting people and organisations, who want to do business with Frisians, the group turns Frisians into ambassadors for their homeland.
This past spring, the organisation launched its site fryslanferbynt.nl as a way for Frisians throughout the world to remain connected with each other. According to Sjoerd the site has thousands of people listed in its database and 800 active members. Aside from the website, the organisation also holds events in and outside of Friesland.
Celebrating 400 years of ties
This past September, Fryslân Ferbynt was on hand in New York City for NY400, to celebrate New York’s 400-year relationship with the Netherlands. Friesland was the second country to recognise the independence of the United States of America (the first was France), and there were also two Frisians who served as director-general of what was then called New Amsterdam. To celebrate this rich history, the book Famous Frisians in America was published in September 2009. The book showcases 70 celebrated Frisians who played an important part in America’s history.
The province and Frisian enterprises together organised Friesland Day, which was celebrated on 12 September on Governors Island in the New York Harbor. The day highlighted the special relationship that Friesland has with New York, while also providing a forum to introduce Frisian culture and businesses to the community.
Fryslân House New York
In order to encourage businesses to venture outside of the province, the organisation opened a Friesland House in New York, which serves as a business office for enterprises who want to do business in the United States. The purpose of the house is to give businesses a base in New York City, while also getting support from the province and other Frisian businesses. “Think of it as a shared office,” says Sjoerd.
Fryslân House in New York was officially opened on 12 September. Currently, 17 businesses that are a part of the Friesland House in New York and it is supported by amongst others, a bank and a consultancy and engineering firm.
The Fryslân House concept works because it is characteristic of the Frisian people to help one another. “It’s typical that the Friesland enterprises do this,” Sjoerd explains. “They want to help other Frisian enterprises.” There are also Fryslân Houses in Riga, Latvia and in Amsterdam, and there are plans to open a future house in St. Petersburg.
The Liet Foundation
Frisians are active in promoting the survival of their minority language and, since 1991 Liet International has held a song festival for Friesland. In 2002, the foundation decided to organise a similar festival at the European level to include other minority languages. According to Onno Falkena, organiser of Liet International 2009, the song festival attracted international media attention from its conception, including BBC World and CNN. The festival has grown from a Frisian initiative that was paid for mainly by Frisian sources, to an international festival that attracts an audience between 600 and 1,000 people.
The festival is also unique. In 2001, Eurovision dropped the rule that required all contestants to sing in their national language. “Eurovision therefore became mainly an English event and therefore does not represent in any way the true cultural, musical and linguistic diversity of Europe. It is our aim to do this!” says Falkena. It seems to be working - according to Falkena the festival is a showcase for songs in languages he has never before heard.
For the beauty of the language
Much like producing a film or a novel in a minority language, these musicians do it for simpler reasons. “Many of them are quite keen and proud to represent their minority language and to meet other musicians who also sing in a minority language,” says Falkena. Participants also get an international stage with media attention that can help them further their musical careers.
This year’s festival included Gaelic rock, hip-hop in Low German, Sardinian, and the Sámi rock band SomBy, who won this year with their live performance of their song “Ii idit vel.” SomBy won a silver Liet-trophy, presented by the Minister for Culture of the Provinsje Fryslân, Jannewietske de Vries, a check for 1,000 euros from the Council of Europe, and an invitation to next year’s Frisian Befrijdingsfestival (Liberation Festival) on 5 May. The Sardinian rap group Dr. Drer & CRC Posse from Cagliari, won the Liet International 2009 Public Award. The contestant representing Friesland, Langstme & de Dea, came in fifth place.
This was the sixth year that the contest took place in the Frisian capital of Leeuwarden. Next year’s festival will be held in Inverness, Scotland, while Udine, Italy is the main candidate for 2011.
“Friesland beleef je écht!”
One of Friesland’s most important economic sectors is tourism, which accounts for 22,000 jobs, or 11% of total employment in Friesland. Tourism in Friesland has increased over the years, and according to Fryslân Marketing, 17.3% more tourists visited Friesland during the past seven months of 2009. “This enormous growth is the result of an effective marketing campaign,” says Paul van Gessel, Director of Fryslân Marketing.
Fryslân Marketing’s campaign slogan, “Friesland beleef je écht!” translated into English means “Fryslân a real experience!” The majority of visitors to Friesland are from Holland, Belgium, Northern France, Scandinavia, Germany, and England. The province is particularly popular amongst seniors, which Van Gessel attributes to Friesland’s good cycling and walking routes, peaceful natural surroundings and excellent facilities.
A province that will surprise
Friesland is known as the water sports province for a reason – it has the largest area of inland lakes in Europe. This offers visitors a quiet escape, with romantic canals, small ditches and rivers waiting to be explored. While the southern part of the province has many large lakes that are perfect for sailing and other water sports activities, including surfing, sailing, skûtsjesilen (Frisian sailing), and kite surfing.
The province also plays host to several big sporting events, the most famous of which is Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Race). The world-famous event takes place when weather permits. However, every four years, de Slachtemarathon is organised during which an estimated 13,000 people walk through Fryslân. Friesland is also host to the country’s biggest balloon event, the Frisian Ballooning Festival, which takes place over five days and boasts 35 balloons in different figures and colors.
“Each season has his own charm; in summer it is beautiful to discover Fryslân by boat,” says Van Gessel. “Spring is the perfect season for walking and biking through the nature of our province. And winter and autumn are ideal for going to the Wadden islands where you can make long walks on the quiet and wide beaches.”
Whatever time of year it is, there is always something to be discovered in the region. But the perseverance of a people determined to hold on to their identity is what makes Friesland most unique. Language in an indelible part of that identity, and one that continues to thrive in this province thanks to the Frisian pride in their heritage.
For Falkena, more progress is expected. And every little bit helps – even if it comes from the fame and beauty of Doutzen Kroes.
“To which extent this influences ordinary Frisians is hard to say,” says Falkena. “But I have the impression that the female first name Doutzen has become more popular in recent years!”
