Netherlands

Promise:

Belofte

Ik beloof mijn best te doen (met hulp van God‡) een goede padvindster/gids to zijn, Iedereen te helpen waar ik kan, bewust het goede te zoeken en te bevorderen, en met te houden aan de padvindsters/ gidsen wet. Jullie kunnen op me rekenen!

Guide Promise

I promise to do my best (with the help of God‡) to be a good Guide, to help everyone wherever I can, to go consciously in search of the spiritual value in my life, and to live up to the Guide law. You can count on me!

Kabouter belofte

Ik beloof mijn best te doen (met de hulp van God‡) een goede kabouter/esta te zijn, iedereen te helpen waar ik kan, bewust het goede te zoeken en te bevorderen en me te houden aan de kabouter/esta wet. Jullie kunnen op met rekenen!

Brownie Promise

I promise to do my best (with the help of God‡):
To be a good Brownie/Esta,
To help everybody wherever possible,
To go consciously in search of the spiritual value of my life, and
To keep the Brownie law.
You can count on me!

‡Members of Scouting Nederland may have permission to omit the words ‘with the help of God’.

Law:

Wet

Een padvindster/gids trekt er samen met anderen op uit om de wereld om zich heen te ontdekken en deze meer leefbaar te maken.
Zij is eerlijk, trouw en houdt vol.
Zij is spaarzaam en sober en heeft zorg voor de natuur.
Zij respecteert zichzelf en anderen.

Guide Law

A Guide goes out with others to discover the world around her and to make it more worthwhile to live in.
She is honest, faithful and perseveres.
She is thrifty, and sober and takes good care of nature.
She respects herself and others.

Kabouter/Esta wet

Een kabouter speelt samen met anderen in Bambilie
Een Esta speelt samen met de anderen in het land van Esta.
Zij is eerlijk, vriendelijk, houdt vol en zorgt goed voor de natuur.

Brownie Law

A Brownie plays together with others in Bambilië
An Esta plays together with others in the country of Esta.
She is honest, kind, perseveres and takes good care of nature.

Age groups:

Jongerentak/ Sea Ranger/ 17-21
Loods  /Ranger

Sherpa, Matroos/ Senior Guide, 14-17
Astronaut Sea/Air Senior

Padvindster Gids, Guide, 10-15
Zeeverkenner/ Sea/Air
Luchtverkenner Guide

Kabouter/Esta Brownie 7-11

Bever Beaver 5-7

Development of the movement:

The first Guide groups appeared in the Netherlands in 1911. In 1916 six of these groups formed Het Nederlandse Meisjes Gilde, which in 1928 was a Founder Member of WAGGGS. The Association changed its name to Het Nederlandse Padvindsters Gilde in 1933.

After the Second World War there were two Guide Associations active in the Netherlands: Het Nederlandse Padvindsters Gilde, which was partially sponsored by the Ecumenical Council of Youth and the Salvation Army; and De Nederlandse Gidsen, which catered to Roman Catholic girls. These two Associations were represented in WAGGGS by a joint council, the Nationale Padvindsters Raad.

In 1967 the Federation Scouting Nederland was formed as a result of the growing co-operation between the Nationale Padvindsters Raad and the Scouting Association for boys. Since 1973 there has been one organization for girls and boys, Scouting Nederland, which combines elements from all former associations and remains open to new developments. HRH Prince Claus is patron of this merged organization.

Programme:

Scouting Nederland offers a wide variety of programmes, some of which take part in single-sex units, whereas other programmes have been designed specifically for mixed units. Though a merged organization, groups themselves decide whether or not to have mixed units.

Given the abundance of water in the country, a large number of groups specialize in Guiding on the water; and recently an increasing number of girls have taken an interest in the challenges of aeronautics, joining Airscout Troops.

Beavers come together to enjoy free play in the house of ‘Hotsjietonia’ where ‘Tall-do-All’ lives. The characters in the programme provide a choice of activities.

The Brownies play together in the imaginary country of Bambilië, where almost everything is possible. The villages in the country suggest lots of attractive programmes.

The Estas use a new programme specifically designed for mixed units, launched in 1991. Together with the children Jeroen, Hilde Rozemarijn and Deng there is a lot to experience in the town of Pals, where the statue of the Child with the Top Hat stands near the Volderia river.

The Guides, Sea Guides and Air Guides all use the ‘Scoutsprogramme’, a renewed version of earlier programmes, presented in 1991. It is an attractive programme equally suited to the needs of single-sex and mixed units. It stimulates the initiative of the girls, and includes traditional Guide activities and a number of contemporary challenges.

Senior Guides, including those Senior Guides with an interest in nautical or aeronautical projects, have a joint programme with the Venture Scouts. In mixed or single-sex units they choose their own projects. Self-administration, with the assistance from the leader, is the most important feature of this programme.

The Ranger programme is based upon being completely self-supporting.

Scouting Nederland has an Extension Branch for disabled Guides and Scouts, who may be in special needs units, but can also be members of regular units.

Relationship to society:

Scouting Nederland has undertaken projects that aim at supporting community life. At local level, groups frequently take part in environmental action, contributing to the maintenance of nature and in line with their goal of service.

After the World Jamboree in 1995 the YOU-TOO project was started. This project was a sequel to the Global Development Village which was part of the World Jamboree. In that village Scouts could show each other in what way they are socially involved. With the YOU-TOO project Scouting Nederland wants to stimulate more Scouts in the Netherlands to become active in society. Children of refugees, for example, are guests of Scouting groups and districts.

Communication and Co-operation

The Association promotes international education through publications, its leaders and at training courses. The European Jamboree and the World Jamboree are stimulating general interest in the international aspect of Guiding.

Scouting Nederland has worked on an education project for girls and women in co-operation with the Guides and Scouts of Yemen. The Association concluded a partnership with the South African Scout Association and the Girl Guides Association of South Africa. Groups and regions in the Netherlands and South Africa are supported in establishing equal and mutual contact. At national level an exchange between the Scouting and Guiding organizations also takes place: this involves ideas, programmes and concrete projects, such as starting new Scouting and Guiding groups in townships and rural areas. At present the Association is co-operating with Cesky Junák - svazd skautu a skautek (Czech Republic) and Slovensky Skauting (Slovakia). A particularly exciting element in the co-operation is the exchange visits, in which groups and districts take part.

Scouting Nederland informs the general public about its activities through press releases and promotion. Since 1985 a spokesperson has been appointed in every district to co-ordinate public relations activities. The Association publishes Beverpost, a magazine for Beavers; Scouty for Brownies and Cub Scouts, Flitz for Scouts and Guides, iXiXL for Senior Guides, Venture Scouts and Rangers, and the Magazine for leaders. Additionally the Scouting Nederland Courant is published for the volunteers at managerial level.

Training:

After an update, a new training scheme called ‘Tailor-made’ was introduced in 1990-1992. The basic characteristics of the new training scheme are the easy accessibility of training sessions given in the vicinity of the leaders. Another goal is continuous training. All leaders are expected to attend one training a year and a comprehensive range of trainings on a variety of issues, skills and techniques are being developed.

Outdoor and Environmental Activities

At Easter and Whitsuntide Scouting Nederland goes camping. A number of regional camps are organized, and the National Patrol Competition takes place. At regular intervals, a weekend camp for all the leaders in the Movement is organized, and a National Sea-Scout/ Guide camp also takes place regularly.

In 2000 a National Jamboree was organized. Scouts, Guides and Senior Scouts and Guides participated at this international camp.

At local level groups take an active interest in nature conservation, helping to clean up nature areas and plant trees. On Scouting Nederland’s own campsites, environment-friendly camping is promoted and information is provided to that end. In the European Jamboree (1994) and the World Jamboree (1995), organized by Scouting Nederland, the preservation of the environment was one of the focal points.