From church to community: the shift of the auction tradition in West Friesland

At the beginning of the last century, churches decided to organize an auction because of a lack of money and overdue maintenance of their churches. Members of the Catholic Church community could contribute products to the auction. The proceeds of this went entirely to the church and the maintenance that had to be done. Many members of the church were peat farmers and took batches of (leftover) flower bulbs for auction. That is where the original ‘church bulb auction’ owes its name.

Loyal community

Wim Kersten from Stede Broec is chairman of the historical association ‘Oud Stede Broec’ and likes to talk about the phenomenon of church auctions. He explains that the auctions for the church are a tradition that goes back a long way. For example, he names the three church villages in West Friesland Bovenkarspel, Grootebroek and Lutjebroek as fanatics with regard to the auctions.

He says that although Lutjebroek had the smallest church community in terms of members, their auction was the most successful. Kersten: “That’s because the church community is the most traditional of the three. You will find the most loyal church followers there.” And that worked out positively during the auctions. The church volunteers are the pivot of the auctions, held by and for the church. A tradition that has existed since ancient times through the efforts of volunteers.

Church maintenance

The purpose of the church auction is (and was) almost always the maintenance of the church building. And so every year the auction is dominated by a different ‘new’ maintenance. Kersten: “One time it’s the roof, the other time the facade.”

As a resident of Grootebroek, Piet Reus is actively involved in various volunteer clubs, including the committee for the parish auction of the Catholic Church in the village. It was a logical step for him to commit himself to the auction as a volunteer: “Through my work and hobbies I knew just about everyone from Grootebroek and in this way I could contribute to the church community.”

Known data

According to Reus, the auctions are a known fact. “All villages in West Friesland with a Catholic church were looking for a way to generate more money for maintenance.” In some villages the auctions had a ‘remarkably successful result’, according to Reus. “The success of the auctions in villages such as Lutjebroek and Wervershoof can mainly be explained by the strong community there is.”

According to Reus, there is a lot involved in an auction. “First of all, a brochure must be designed, which will contain all the products and activities of the auction.” Whereas in the past mainly products went under the hammer, the brochure is now dominated by organized outings. For example, a pilgrimage bicycle tour through West Friesland, specially organized for the auction.

When asked if there is a question, the Grootebroeker smiling: “A package like this can easily cost 60 to 70 euros. Often a large group of 70 to 80 people is interested in the special package, count your profit!” According to him, the activities during the auctions are ‘really fun days out’. According to Reus, a varied audience comes to the auctions, although it is generally a bit older.

Church auction becomes community auction

Both Kersten and Reus admit that there has been a decline in church auctions in West Friesland in recent years. They both cite the undercapacity of the church volunteers as the main cause of this. Kersten: “The church building is no longer the central point of a community.” The Catholic tradition seems to be shifting to local associations housed in neighborhood centers or cultural centers. And this is where the current phenomenon originates: the community auctions.

The local shift also has consequences for the church auction from Grootebroek, says Reus. “We organized the last auction in Grootebroek this year. We have tried to set up a community auction, but so far we have not succeeded.”

Yet both gentlemen from Grootebroek see it as anything but gloomy. The two see the turnaround that is taking place in West Friesland as an opportunity to also involve younger generations in the auctions. Reus: “You can appeal to a large and young audience through music and sports associations, just like through the community auctions organized by them.”