North Sea Foundation

The North Sea Foundation (Stichting De Noordzee) is a Dutch environmental organization dedicated to the better management of the sea, particularly the North Sea. For more than forty years it has acted as a voice for the North Sea, working toward a clean and healthy sea. Its office is located in Utrecht, Netherlands. The organization is active in shipping, fisheries, spatial planning, water quality, hazardous substances including microplastics and dredging, and education and awareness. It is also the publisher of the Goede visgids (Good Fish Guide), written by Wouter Klootwijk. The foundation originated in July 1977 as the Werkgroep Noordzee, a collaborative effort of Vereniging Milieudefensie, the Landelijke Vereniging tot Behoud van de Waddenzee, Stichting Natuur en Milieu, the Nederlandse Vereniging tot Bescherming van Vogels, the Verbond van Wetenschappelijke Onderzoekers, and various individuals concerned about what was happening in the North Sea. On 26 March 1980 a foundation was formed, the Stichting Werkgroep Noordzee, and on 30 November of that year the name was statutorily changed to Stichting De Noordzee. The organization has consistently focused on public information and awareness, publishing the Nieuwsbrief Noordzee from 1977 to 1984 and the North Sea Monitor for an international audience.

The North Sea Foundation traces its origins to July 1977, when the Werkgroep Noordzee (North Sea Working Group) was established as a collaborative effort of Vereniging Milieudefensie, the Landelijke Vereniging tot Behoud van de Waddenzee, Stichting Natuur en Milieu, the Nederlandse Vereniging tot Bescherming van Vogels, the Verbond van Wetenschappelijke Onderzoekers, and various individuals. The groups were concerned about what was happening in the North Sea and believed that the natural environment of the North Sea was under threat if nothing was done. The Working Group decided to closely monitor all threats and, where possible (for example through legal proceedings), to force serious polluters of the North Sea to cease their activities. It participated in two committees: the North Sea Committee of the Council of Waterways (Raad van de Waterstaat) and a similar committee of the Central Council for Environmental Hygiene (Centrale Raad voor de Milieuhygiëne). From the outset, the Working Group devoted much attention to information and education for a wide range of audiences. For example, from 1977 to 1984 it published the Nieuwsbrief Noordzee, and for an international audience it published the North Sea Monitor. On 26 March 1980, a foundation was formed, the Stichting Werkgroep Noordzee. On 30 November of that year, the name was statutorily changed to "Stichting De Noordzee". The organization has since operated as a Dutch environmental organization working for better management of the sea, in particular the North Sea, and is active in shipping, fisheries, spatial planning, water quality, hazardous substances including microplastics and dredging, and education and awareness. Its office is located in Utrecht. It is also the publisher of the Goede visgids (Good Fish Guide), written by Wouter Klootwijk.

• 1980

  On 26 March, Stichting Werkgroep Noordzee is formed as a foundation.

• 1980

  On 30 November, the name is statutorily changed to Stichting De Noordzee.

• 1977

  Werkgroep Noordzee founded in July as a collaborative effort of several Dutch environmental organizations and individuals.

• 1977

  Publication of Nieuwsbrief Noordzee begins (continues until 1984).

A Dutch environmental NGO and advocacy brand focused on the protection and sustainable management of the North Sea.

• Goede visgids (Good Fish Guide)

  A guide to sustainable fish, written by Wouter Klootwijk and published by the foundation.

• North Sea Monitor

  A publication for an international audience.

• Nieuwsbrief Noordzee

  A newsletter published from 1977 to 1984.

1. 1Stichting De Noordzee official websitenoordzee.nl
2. 2North Sea Foundation on Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Stichting De Noordzee on Dutch Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org