Elections for the provincial councils

The big issues in Friesland

The Dutch are going to the polls on March 2 to elect their provincial representatives. Voting is often done with an eye on the national elections – those voted in will in their turn choose the new senate – but local issues will also make up minds. This is the tenth in a Volkskrant series on the most pressing provincial headaches.

Of course the people from Brabant are proud of their province. Drentenaren probably think theirs is the quietest and most beautiful and only Limburgers can know the true value of Limburg. But no province tops Friesland, or Fryslân as it should properly be called, for a sense of identity. It even has its own language.

Every single party, from PvdA to PVV, from ChristenUnie to the local Fryske Nasjonale Partij (FNP), has declared ‘I am a Friesian’ in some way or another:

‘Us dream foar Fryslân yn 2025: Fryslân will be thriving in 2025. We are still an independent province which the Friesians can be proud of. The gold of our province still shines’. (PvdA).

‘In 2010 Fryslân was elected the most beautiful province in the land. We Friesians are proud of that. But we’re not stuck up about it. Just be yourself, that’s Friesian enough for us.’ (CDA)

‘Fryslân is a beautiful province with a rich history and culture. Through the centuries Friesians have battled the sea and this has made them what they are today: strong and determined. We need those characteristics for a healthy society.’ (PVV)

Language

In spite of all this talk of provincial pride the Friesian language is not doing well according to GroenLinks, or GrienLinks. ‘The use and quality of the Friesian language is deteriorating’, the party says in its election programme.

All parties are agreed that the preservation of the Friesian language lies in the hands of the provincial authorities.

‘Friesland is multilingual and the Fryske language is an integral part of Friesian identity and culture’, say the Christian Democrats. That is why ‘Friesian language teaching in primary, secondary education and teacher training colleges should be promoted’.

The PVV wants the province to exclude any language except Dutch and Friesian. ‘The PVV expects all civil servants to be able to at least understand Friesian and if possible speak it.’

Public discussion

GroenLinks feels that ‘a broad public discussion should be started on the future of the Friesian language’. The VVD too thinks Friesian is important and ‘a unique selling point’ for the province’s tourist industry, along with the typically Friesian sports of skûtjesilen (boat racing), kaatsen (a ball game) and fierljeppen (jumping over ditches using a pole).’

Many parties mention regional television station Omroep Fryslân as an important mouthpiece for the language so this is one regional broadcaster that doesn’t have to worry about next year’s subsidies.

But if you think the Friesian language is the only language needing protection you would be mistaken. This is what the local FNP has to say: ‘De FNP makket him sterk, foar in Fryslân, dër’t ek oare talen en kulturen repektearre, praktisearre e wurdearre wurde, lykas it Bildts en it Stellingwarfs.’

This is an unofficial translation

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