a mienskipshûs for everyone
At Bouwurk, we celebrate the joy of making and building together.
Right in the heart of Leeuwarden, in front of the Oldehove, we’re creating a true eye-catcher. This is Bouwurk: a modern-day cathedral and a tribute to the Fryske mienskip. Constructed with local makers and materials from the region, it’s a place brimming with stories, firsts, and special encounters. Created by and for the community. Come by, slow down, and connect with others. Discover what unfolds when we visit one another, when we listen, share, and create together.
Together, we prove that the impossible is possible, as long as we do it together
Sjoerd Bootsma, Artistic Director of Arcadia
Why are we building Bouwurk?
The world feels cold and harsh. No matter which screen you look at, it seems there’s a crisis everywhere—climate disasters, war, loneliness. Everything feels off-kilter: su skeef as the Oldehove (as skewed as the Oldehove).
But there is hope. Turn off your screen, step outside, and truly look around you. A thousand flowers are blooming. People, businesses, and organisations are standing up and showing that things can be done differently. They are finding new ways—or rediscovering old ones—and building towards a better street, neighborhood, or region. Not behind a screen, but in the real world. Where we meet. Their voices may not be as loud as the social media algorithms, but together they form a growing movement. From knitting café De Steek in Hurdegaryp to Sea Silt Ceramics and Tichelaar Makkum’s Wadden clay tiles. From three contractors who put aside their egos to build together. They show that when we connect and collaborate, we’re capable of incredible things. Bouwurk highlights how small gestures can lead to big change. It’s a tribute to every person and every act that keeps the mienskip alive.
We can build again, right?
Five hundred years ago, a cathedral stood beneath the Oldehove: a place where people gathered to share both joy and sorrow. A place of connection and community. Surely, we can create that again? With Bouwurk, we’re rebuilding the Oldehove—not as a religious space, but as a mienskipshûs: a monument to create together, celebrate together, and experience together.
In a time when building together feels almost impossible, we ask: how do we build a better world? What does it take? Can we do it alone, or do we need each other? In the beating heart of Fryslân, we’re creating a summer full of imagination, wonder, and connection. Together with clubs, initiatives, villages, neighbourhoods and our mienskip, we’ll show what Fryslân has been doing for centuries: tegearre sels dwaan (doing it together).
so what is Bouwurk?
Bouwurk isn’t just another building. It’s a mienskipshûs for our time. A place to collaborate and connect. An oasis. An exhibition. A stage. A workshop. A living room. Step inside and discover a space full of new adventures.
Come by and join in. Here, we celebrate the joy of building together and show how a small contribution can become part of something much bigger. With knitted wool walls, colourful windows, and a green heart full of plants, Bouwurk invites you both to participate and to pause. It’s where creative and practical ideas come together: a shared work of art that belongs to everyone and no one at the same time..
what can i experience in Bouwurk?
There’s so much to do! Relax in the green oasis, admire artworks, join a creative session in the studio, enjoy the stage, or meet new people in the kitchen. Bouwurk is an open invitation to take part.
Turn off your screen and unplug from the digital world. Explore the world around you and dive into imagination, wonder, and human connection. Here, you can sing, dance, draw, cook, build, learn, laugh, and bond. At Bouwurk, you’re welcome to pause, to escape the daily grind. Together, we’ll explore what happens when we seek each other out, when we listen, share, and build something beautiful, side by side.
what is Bouwurk made of?
From Fryske materials, of course! Everything comes from right here in the region: silt from the Wadden Sea, bulrush from the peatlands, fabrics from old hot-air balloons, and wool panels knitted by the mienskip. Every “stone,” every beam, every nook and cranny tells a story. The whole structure will be a vibrant patchwork of local, recycled, and urban-mined materials.
Together, we’re building an iconic landmark: as striking as any cathedral, but made for and by everyone. Residents, artists, designers, companies, theatre makers, and curious passersby – everyone’s invited. Contribute in your own way! Donate wool for the walls, a plant cutting for the oasis, or sign up as a volunteer. We’re creating a place full of memories to be grutsk (proud) of. There’s so much we can do together. And we’re just getting started.
Projectpartners Bouwurk
Lead partners Arcadia 2025
Partners Arcadia 2025
Meibouwers: Friso, Dijkstra Draaisma, Lont, Rabobank, Omrin, MHB, Koninklijke Tichelaar, Sea Silt Ceramics (Humade), Steinvoortglas, Kooi 24/7, Ferwerda Beveiliging, Everwin, Sijperda, Noordelijke Ballonvaartcentrum, Probo, Haan Reclame werken, Bakker Vakkeukens, Miedema, Vereniging Circulair Fryslân and Made in Fryslân
Made possible by: Aeres, Afûk, Alliade – De Kapschuur, Breicafé De Steek, Burgemeester Harmsmaschool Gorredijk, City of Literature, Creative Embassies, DockLabs, DutchBeans, Friesland Pop, Fryslân Bloeit, Geloven in Leeuwarden, Generatie 2035, Humade, Indu-Con, Leeuwarden Oost, Leeuwarder Beton Centrale, MEE Noord, Nationaal Rietvlecht Museum, Neushoorn, Niemand aan de Zijlijn, Noardlike Fryske Wâlden, Ploegh & Eide, Omrin, Overtreders-W, Patyna – Aylvastate, Piter Jelles – De Brêge, Planbureau Fryslân, Pleed, Ploegh & Eide, Popfabriek, Recell, Regverdig, Rewood, Roast, Slieker – Fries Film en Audio Archief, Smoel Kunstwerkplaats, Snoek, Stichting 8ste Dag, Stienstra van der Wal, Studio Tjeerd Veenhoven, SusPhos, Tryater, Vereniging Circulair Friesland, Wender – Huis van jongeren and Wolwêzen