What happens when a village comes together

What makes a village strong. And what happens when people truly meet each other, organise something together and step out of their daily routine for a while.

Together with the University of Groningen, Arcadia is researching the strength of the mienskip (community) in Fryslân. Researcher Carmen van Bruggen follows villages and neighbourhoods where residents set up their own activities to make their surroundings more social, healthier and more future-proof. Not from behind a desk, but right in the middle of things.

One of those places is Kollumersweach and Feankleaster. During the Bloeiweek in May 2025, residents came together for dozens of activities, from shared meals and exercise to art and culture. What did that bring? New encounters, different conversations, and sometimes even a different view of yourself or your surroundings. The week brought together people who already knew each other, as well as fellow villagers who had never met before. Participants described the atmosphere as open and positive. There was something for everyone, and many people said they were surprised by what was on offer and by everything that turned out to be possible in their own village.

To understand what mienskip projects bring about, this research follows people and places over a longer period. Not just during activities, but afterwards too. What stays with people. What changes in how people meet each other and experience their surroundings.

The research, carried out by Carmen van Bruggen of the University of Groningen in collaboration with Arcadia, consists of four parts. More than 350 mienskip projects in Fryslân have been mapped, walking interviews look back on participants’ experiences, and a Bloeiweek by Fryslân Bloeit is followed before, during and after. It also looks at comparable communities in the Basque Country, where collaboration around the local environment plays an important role.

Want to know more about what the Bloeiweek brought about?
Read the articles with the first insights from the research.

Or browse the results of the participant survey, with figures on who took part, why people joined in, and what the Bloeiweek set in motion.

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