Groep fan Auwerk
Groep fan Auwerk ("Group of Aurich") is a political activism organization that advocates for an independent Friesland (Frisia) state.
Nij Fryslân (New Friesland)
The regions proposed are:
- Commune of Helgoland, Pinneberg, Germany.
- Historic region of West Friesland in the province of North Holland, Netherlands.
- Province of Drenthe in the Netherlands.
- Province of Friesland in the Netherlands.
- Province of Groningen in the Netherlands.
- Region of East Frisia, Lower Saxony, Germany.
- North Friesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
- Ditmarschen district , Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
- Region of Rustringen, split between Bremen and Lower Saxony.
History
Groep fan Auwerk was founded in 2003 and organized its platform. In 2005 they made an application for the Frisian nationality to be recognized to the provincial house of parliament in Leeuwarden and ultimately the Frisian nationality was accepted by the European Union. After that they made a "FRL" (Friesland) license plate sticker to replace the official "NL" (Netherlands).[1] The group made an anti-Nazi helmet for World Cup in 2006. On 23 September 2006, Groep fan Auwerk presented a proposal for an Inter-Frisian flag, intended to represent all Frisian regions, but was rejected by the Interfrisian Council in June 2007. However, the Council adopted the idea of a common flag.[2] The flag of the Groep fan Auwerk previously advised, particularly in East Frisia under criticism because it had been prepared by the group in secret and then propagated massively.[3]
In September 2008, Groep fan Auwerk replaced a number of traffic signs with Frisian-language versions. On 25 September 2009, Groep fan Auwerk, in cooperation with Frije Fryske Grûn (Free Frisian Foundation) removed the Dutch versions in Wymbritseradiel. The municipality had already decided that the signs should be in Frisian but the activists did not feel that had effected the change quickly enough.[4]
Chronological list of activism[5]
- 4 March 2005 - Nationality push
- 19 July 2005 - FRL license plate sticker
- 30 November 2005 - Frisian stamp
- 16 September 2006 - Interfrisian flag
- 3 June 2006 - Anti-Nazi helmet
- 19 May 2008 - Against Verdonk
- 21 September 2008 - Frisian road signs
- 25 September 2009 - Frisian place names
Politics
The group is active in politics and promotes a stronger Frisian identity. For example, they say that all Frisian people should have Frisian nationality as well as their Dutch or German citizenship.
Frisian flags
- North Frisian flag
- East Frisian flag
- Frisian flag
- Flag of Groningen
- West Frisian flag
- Groep fan Auwerk's proposed Interfrisian flag
See also
References
- "Interview". VPRO.
- Temmo Bosse (6 June 2007). "Friesen wollen gemeinsame Flagge". interfriesischerrat.de (in Western Frisian).
Einstimmig wurde beschlossen, eine zusätzliche gesamtfriesische Flagge gestalten zu lassen. Ein von der Group van Auwerk aus Westfriesland vorgestellter Flaggenentwurf wurde nicht übernommen, aber als Idee für eine weitere Entwicklung der Fahne begrüßt.
- Article in the Leeuwarder Courant of 2 October 2006
- "Groep fan Auwerk". www.groepfanauwerk.com.
- "Groep fan Auwerk". www.groepfanauwerk.com.