Algemeen-Nederlands Verbond

The Algemeen-Nederlands Verbond (ANV), known in French as the Union générale néerlandaise, is a voluntary association founded in 1895 with the aim of promoting cooperation between the Netherlands and Flanders. It is a Dutch-law association with three branches representing the Netherlands, Flanders, and South Africa. Since 2008, only natural persons may become members. Among its achievements are its contribution to the creation in 1980 of the Dutch Language Union between the Netherlands and Belgium (expanded in 2003 to include Suriname) and the cultural pact between the Netherlands and Flanders in 1995. It publishes a magazine, Neerlandia / Nederlands van Nu (Dutch / Dutch Today).

The Algemeen-Nederlands Verbond (ANV) was founded on 27 April 1895 in Brussels. On that evening, Hippoliet Meert, invited by the society De Distel (The Thistle), spoke about the extent of the Dutch-language area. Following his talk, it was decided to found the Algemeen Nederlandsch Verbond (spelling of the time), to which several figures had already declared their intention to affiliate. About twenty listeners agreed to become members and to form a committee composed of Johan Kesler (then president of De Distel), J.M. Brans, H. Meert, Maurits Josson, Prosper Van Langendonck, Reimond Stijns, and Major Vande Weghe. This provisional committee drafted a set of basic principles, approved at the meeting of 9 June 1895 in the café De Vos (The Fox) on the Grand-Place. The provisional committee was constituted there as the first branch of the Union and was joined by new members: Toussaint, Van Besien, Hendrik Coopman, L. De Geest, Léonce Du Catillon, Schamelhout, and Thierry. From 1896, the Union—then based in Ghent—began publishing the bulletin Neerlandia. Independently of Meert's initiative, Dr H.J. Kiewiet de Jonge, at the 24th linguistic and literary congress in 1897, called for the creation of a general Dutch-language association. Some participants were aware of the ANV's formation in Flanders, and it was decided to join the initiative and transfer the seat from Ghent to Dordrecht in 1898; that same year, new statutes were approved and the secretariat passed from Meert to Dr Kiewiet de Jonge. The northern Netherlands group increasingly came to the fore after the transfer of the society's seat to the Netherlands. The southern Netherlands group would soon plead for the linguistic interests of the Flemings and consistently favoured spiritual rapprochement with the northern Netherlands, more developed in language and literature. At first, the ANV was a literary association with missionary zeal for education, trying to stay out of the political questions of the time. The Dutchification of the University of Ghent, however, was welcomed with expressions of support. Gradually, the Union grew into one of the most powerful institutions. It vigorously supported any initiative that could benefit linguistic brethren in South Africa, among other things by establishing an excellent independent press bureau in Dordrecht, which at its zenith (around 1899) employed ten to twenty people who typed refutations of lies and slander, notably for jingoistic British press. Thanks to voluntary donations, this bureau could dispose of substantial financial resources. In 1897 a distinct group began to flourish in South Africa, which soon counted some 1,100 members. After the fatal outcome of the war of independence and the temporary dissolution of the South African group, the Union provided as much aid as possible by supporting schools and libraries in South Africa, sending books to South African prisoners of war in Ceylon and elsewhere, and other similar initiatives. The activities of the South African branch were soon resumed, and in 1908 the Union had nuclei in Potchefstroom, Stellenbosch, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, and Zoutpansberg, totalling 224 members in South Africa that year. Despite the diligent efforts of Dr Abraham Kuyper, results in North America were less satisfactory. In 1900 a distinct group was created in Java, in the Dutch East Indies, which counted 1,430 members in 1908. In 1902 a group was formed in Dutch Guiana, which already had 360 members in 1908. In addition, the Union devoted attention to Dutch-speaking communities established in major cities of Europe, Asia (Constantinople and Smyrna), and Egypt, as well as to reducing postal rates between the Netherlands and Belgium. Influenced by the writings of Pieter Geyl, the ANV adhered to Greater Netherlands thought. When, shortly before the Second World War, the ANV distanced itself from this thought, young people left the Union and founded their own youth organisation. To avoid attracting too much attention, during the Second World War the society organised few activities in the core regions (the Netherlands and Flanders) and interrupted publication of its bulletin Neerlandia. However, the book distribution project continued. Since 1955, the ANV has awarded the ANV-Visser Neerlandia Prize to individuals and institutions distinguished in culture or welfare, or by personal merits, drama, or music. The funds for financing the prizes are fed by interest.

• 2008

  Only natural persons may become members.

• 2003

  Dutch Language Union expanded to include Suriname.

• 1995

  Cultural pact between the Netherlands and Flanders.

• 1980

  Contributed to the creation of the Dutch Language Union between the Netherlands and Belgium.

• 1955

  Began awarding the ANV-Visser Neerlandia Prize.

• 1908

  Union had nuclei in Potchefstroom, Stellenbosch, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, and Zoutpansberg; 224 members in South Africa.

• 1902

  A group formed in Dutch Guiana.

• 1900

  A distinct group created in Java, Dutch East Indies.

• 1898

  Seat transferred from Ghent to Dordrecht; new statutes approved; secretariat passed to Dr Kiewiet de Jonge.

• 1896

  Began publishing the bulletin Neerlandia from Ghent.

• 1895

  Founded on 27 April in Brussels; provisional committee formed; basic principles approved on 9 June.

A cultural and linguistic association promoting Dutch-language cooperation across the Netherlands, Flanders, and South Africa.

• Neerlandia / Nederlands van Nu

• ANV-Visser Neerlandia Prize

1. 1Algemeen-Nederlands Verbond - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Algemeen-Nederlands Verbond - Wikipedia (French)fr.wikipedia.org