News item | 25-04-2022 | 15:24
Frisian is the mother tongue of more than 300,000 Frisians and an important part of their own identity and culture. To increase the visibility of Frisian, Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Hanke Bruins Slot and Deputy Sietske Poepjes signed the Visibility Agreement for the Frisian language today during a working visit to Northwest Friesland. For example, the central government and the province of Fryslân want to ensure that government agencies use Frisian more to keep the second national language visible in the province of Fryslân.
In the agreement it was agreed that the Frisian language would be reflected in various ways in the public indoor and outdoor spaces in Fryslân. For example, in the government buildings in the province, the signage will be bilingual: in Dutch and in Frisian. The Rijkspanden will also be enriched with more Frisian art, because art can also increase the visibility of the language. In addition, a trial will be run around the national roads in Fryslân with temporary extra signage. In addition to the Dutch signs, a sign in the Frisian language will also be placed.
Minister Bruins Slot: “The language closest to you is often the language of your heart and of your life. For the vast majority of Frisians this is Frisian. With the actions and agreements from this Visibility Agreement, the Frisian language will be given a more visible place in government buildings and along the Frisian roads, but also in the communication of government bodies.”
The Visibility Agreement arises from a motion by the House of Representatives in which it was requested to promote the visibility of the Frisian language in Friesland and is an addition to the Administrative Agreement on Frisian Language and Culture 2019-2023.
In addition to the signing of the agreement, the working visit also focused on a Regional Deal in Northwest Fryslân. Furthermore, using the example Natuer mei de Mienskip, the minister discussed democratic participation in Fryslân. Finally, she spoke to young people from Tienskip, who introduce their peers to local politics in a low-threshold manner and encourage participation among young people.