Folk Dancing in the Netherlands

Organizations / Volksdansverenigingen

Updated: 31 May 2011



The chief purpose of this site is to answer the question, "Where can I dance?" -- to attend an open event, to take a course, or. in some cases, join a troupe.  My interest is in participatory dancing, although you will also find some links here to organizations that perform or promote folk dancing, and also to a few musical bands that play for dances.

Contents:
Traditional Dutch dancing (Folkloristisch)
     National and General Organizations
     Traditional Dance Descriptions, Videos, Costumes
     Local groups, by province
British, Irish & American Traditional Styles:
     English Country, New England Contra, Morris,
     Scottish Country, Scottish Highland, American Squares, Irish, Misc. American
International Folk Dance & Miscellaneous Styles
     National and General Organizations
     Local Groups, by Province
      Dre - Fle - Fri - Gel - Gro - Lim - NB - NH - Over - Utr - Zee - ZH
Outside the Netherlands
Contact info; how to list your group



Traditional Dutch dancing  Often called "Folkloristisch";
                                                sometimes "Boerendansen" ("farmer-dancing")
                                                or "Klompendansen" (clog dancing)

NATIONAL AND GENERAL ORGANZATIONS:

-- Federatie van Folkloristische Groepen in Nederland (FFGN)
Website now lists over 70 Dutch folkloristic organizations plus 7 children's groups. Also articles (in Dutch) on history of traditional Dutch dancing. Nationale Folkloredag in September.

-- Platform Nederlandse Folklore organizes and promotes events with Dutch traditional dancing. It works with the Landelijk Centrum Amateurdans, Nederlands Centrum Volkscultuur, Nederlandse Kostuum Vereniging, Federatie van Folkloristische Groepen in Nederland and others. The Platform has a newsletter, dance series, and Annual Platform Day, with performances and an evening ball.

-- Nederlands Centrum voor Volkscultuur offers information and answers questions on traditional Dutch folklore, particularly to help immigrants learn Dutch history and customs.

-- Stichting Toverbal promotes folkloristic dancing and publishes dance collections. Five dances online (in Dutch).

 MORE TRADITIONAL DANCE DESCRIPTIONS, VIDEOS, COSTUMES

* Expert teacher Elsche Korf publishes the website  "Information on Traditional Dutch Dances." She provides on-line dance descriptions (in English), sheet music, and sound files for several dozen dances, as well as info on books, costumes, and links.

* Vitrifolk supplies dance descriptions for a dozen Dutch dances, mostly written in French but also some in English and Dutch. Music available on request.

* More written descriptions of traditional Dutch dances (written in language shown) :
Boerenplof (in German); in Dutch
Riepe Riepe Garste (in English)
Slaapmuts (in English)
If you know of other descriptions of Dutch dances on the Web, please tell me.

Videos on-line of traditional Dutch dances:

* Dancilla.com has videos of De Schaop'ndansers performing: Veleta, Drentse Klapdans, Sirenawals, Varsovienne,
Schrittwals, 't Schip moet zeilen, Leg je hand in mijn hand, De Schoenlapper, Driekusman, Joep, Kruispolka,
Sankt Bernhardswals. Through the Dancilla Wiki they attempt to offer videos, descriptions, and sheet music together.

* Youtube has some videos of traditional Dutch dancing (and other folkdancing); experiment with their Search box.

* Google Videos is another tool to search for videos.

Costumes

* Search on klederdrachtgroep for groups that sew traditional costumes.

* Field's Fabric Dutch Costume Kits - for traditional Dutch dancing. Patterns & fabric. A US company.
* De Gelderse Roos in Wageningen - historical costumes.


LOCAL GROUPS, TRADITIONAL DUTCH DANCING, BY PROVINCE

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British, Irish and American styles

# English Country and New England Contras


* Engelse contradans en zang
Each autumn, 3 evenings of English & American contradancing and folksong in Groenhoven 650, Amsterdam Zuidoost.  In 2011: 16 Sept, 14 Oct, and 18 Nov. Live music from Triple Time. €9 once or €24 for 3x. For more info, contact Aartje Vink, 020 695 5825 or Mary Anink.

*
New England Dansavond with band Hobson's Choice and caller Philippe Callens. To be notified of dances, e-mail Mik Lammers, or tel. 06-27132235.

* De Volksdansvereniging NVS
Folkdancing from England, Scotland and America. See their Web page Volkdansvereniging NVS for where to dance. NVS members receive a newsletter with complete info on  English, Scottish and American dancing around the country, both regular series and special events. Special activities organized by NVS include a Sunday English series in Utrecht, several Family Weekends,  a Christmas course, and a summer camp week.

* Engels Contra  with dance group Ankum in Heino. 

* The Volksdans Vereniging Leeuwarden has one hour of English country, Morris, and sword dancing each Wednesday evening, taught by Margo Korf.

* De Hofstaddansers dance English contras in Rijswijk, near the train station. Third Tuesday of the month (except summer). 20:00-22:30. Tel. Afke 070 386 6475.

* Vodawiko organizes English and Scottish dancing in Eindhoven.

* Rural Felicity offers English and Scottish country dancing in Eindhoven. For details see NVS or telephone 040 284 1049.

#Morris Groups
- Morrisdansgroep Helmond in Noord Brabant.
- Morris in Utrecht has info on three Morris teams:
  The Utrechts Morris Team in Utrecht
  Maids of the Mill, a women's team in Utrecht
  Bean Setting Jacks, a youth team in Zeist

#Scottish Country Dance 

* These sites have lists of Scottish Country Dance Groups in the Netherlands:
--- Rowan Tree
--- Celtic Circle
--- Grand Chain

Groups that are included on these lists are:
   - Amsterdam/Amstelveen SCD group
   - Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Delft Branch
   - RSCDS The Hague District Branch
   - The Clansmen SCDG, Den Haag
   - The Thistle Club, Eindhoven
   - White Heather SCDG, Geldermalsen
   - Schiehallion SCDG, Roosendaal
   - The Swilcan SCDG, Utrecht
   - The Rowan Tree Dancers, Vaassen/Heerde (now includes "The Frisky")
   - St Andrews Society of the Netherlands, Wassenaar

#Scottish Highland Dancing
* Scots Heritage has at least two Ceilidhs per year, Groningen area.

* Carieke's School of Highland Dancing, Zuidlaren. Teacher Mrs. Carieke Cazemier-Pol.

* Stichting Highland Dancing Nederland, W. Remmelts, Den Haag. Tel.: 070-3255587, Fax: 070-3235233.

* Scots in Assen.

* Highland Dancing Group 'Dutch Pipes & Drums' in Tilburg.

* Haagse Hooglanders HHPB Bagpipe & drum band, Den Haag. There are over 30 Scottish pipe bands listed at Nederlandse Organisatie van Doedelzakbands.
 

#American Square Dancing

These sites list the clubs for "Modern Western Square Dance" and also Round Dancing:

* The European Association of American Square Dancing. Find its list of Dutch clubs (Country NL)

* NVSD (Nederlandse Vereniging van Square Dansers) 

* Dutch Square Dance Foundation, site of caller Erik Pluylaar of Amersfoort.

* The Club Database at Vic and Debbie Ceder's Square Dance Resource Net

* Dosado
 

# Irish Dancing

* The Irish Club Dancers of the Irish Club in Den Haag.

* Redmond School of Irish Dancing.   Competitions, displays, workshops, lessons in Wassenaar, Leidschendam, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. Step dance and ceili for adults and children. Performance group Kyra.

* Kilkenny School of Irish Dance in Den Haag and Wassenaar.

* MacSuibhne Rinceori (Mc Sweeney Dancers), Irish set, ceilidh & step-dancing. Info: Peter-Paul van den Boomen, 0347-320316. Also, performance on  2nd Mondays at Mulligans, Amstel 100, Amsterdam. tel.: 020-6221330. (Also see Trad. Celtic page)

* Traditional Celtic Music & Dance in Nederland lists current info on Irish dancing at half a dozen locations.

* Liedewijde Mars of Utrecht teaches Irish set-, celi-, and stepdancing. If interested, call 030 280 0462

* Dhamsa na nog Wilmar Remmelts in Den Haag. Offers school for Irish dance, and also competitions.

* An Seamrog rince gasra Marieke Trienekens-Pellens teaches at:
     - De Werkschuit in Zeist, with Annette van der Steen.
     - Centrum voor de Kunsten, Eindhoven. (Search on <ierse>)

* Celtic Swing Marijke van Schaik in Vlaardingen

* European Irish Dancing Schools & Groups lists a dozen locations and resources, including  Irish and Celtic festivals in the Netherlands.

* Irish Folk Club and Jarno's Irish Dance School in Almere.

* Irish dance costumes by Lowland Design in Sassenheim

 

# Misc. American styles
* Cajun & Zydeco in the Netherlands, Cajun music and dancing.

* Country.startpagina.nlhas a long list of Country & Western Line Dance clubs that offer workshops and demonstrations.  (I must point out this is NOT a traditional folk dance.)
 

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International and miscellaneous styles of folkdancing in the Netherlands:


THE NETHERLANDS IN GENERAL


Danslink.nl is an umbrella organization for international folkdance in the Netherlands. Its site provides info on groups, teachers, music, and activities.

The Radoeha website has links to many folkdance resources: groups, festivals, musical instruments, costumes, midis (music files), and more.

Volksdans.startpagina.nl is a large collection of folk dance links in the Netherlands, with a bulletin board of announcements at Prikbord van Volksdans.pagina.nl

MORE LISTS OF FOLK DANCE GROUPS, EVENTS, AND RESOURCES IN THE NETHERLANDS:
Volksdans.verzamelgids.nl
De Folklore Pagina
Volksdans.info-pagina
Folkforum.nl
Volksdans.besteoverzicht.nl

It appears that Kunstfactor Dans, (formerly LCA), a division of Kunstfactor, the national organization for the amateur arts, has a more limited role in regard to folk dance in the Netherlands than before. Check the site for what they now offer and sponsor.

De Werkgroep Volksdans has been working for several years on the best ways to promote folk-dancing in the Netherlands.

Werelddansplein Dol op Dans has info for dance groups in Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe.

CIOFF sponsors folk dance festivals around the world, including the Netherlands. The local representative is Han de Jong, PO Box 250, 6440 AG Brunssum. Tel. 045 527 4141 and fax 045 527 5260.

Israelidance.com lists Israeli dancing in 8 locations: Almere, Amsterdam (7 different sessions), Haarlem, Hilversum, Nijmegen, Nootdorp, Utrecht, Zaanstad, and Zeist.

Stichting Volksmuziek Nederland Folk instruments and song.  Not much on folkdancing but many good folk music links.

For folk festivals in the Netherlands, see the F-Roots Festivals List for continental Europe.  

Stichting Nevofoon in Winschoten sells CDs, books, shoes, etc for international folkdance.

Syncoop Productions of Schiedam provides CDs and other materials for  international folk dance music. 

WebRing voor volksdans, folklore & volksmuziek in Nederland describes a dozen Internet sites.

Mundo Etnico offers material and courses on the children's folklore of Oceania.

Download international dance tunes at Muziek Archief MusiCAD .

Folkdance workshops and weekends at De Uelenspieghel  in Drenthe.

Tineke van Geel organizes folk dance tours.

The DOINA Foundation for Romanian ethnography runs dance events and tours

Wereldmuziekplein lists resources for "world music"

Bal Folk -- an innovative new form of social folk dance, using traditional steps and  live music. Two dozen locations around the Netherlands.

Volksdansen voor kinderen - find children's groups in your area

Stichting Rolstoeldansen Nederland for wheelchair dancing in various styles including folk. 150 groups and a teacher certification program.

De Volksdanscarrousel trains teachers of folkdance in MBvO (Meer Beweging Voor Ouders).

Volksdansen.hyves.nl -- a good place to chat and share photos.

Indiawijzer.nl lists over 25 locations to learn Indian dance, bharata natyam.

The Latin World lists Salsa dance schools in the Netherlands.

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LOCAL GROUPS (INTERNATIONAL & SPECIALIZED STYLES),
    arranged by PROVINCE

Drenthe -- Flevoland -- Friesland -- Gelderland -- Groningen -- Limburg -- Noord-Brabant -- Noord-Holland -- Overijssel -- Utrecht -- Zeeland -- Zuid-Holland

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Drenthe

Flevoland
Province List


Friesland
Province List


Gelderland
Province List


Groningen
Province List

  • Limburg


  • Noord-Brabant
    Province List


    Noord-Holland
    Province List


    Overijssel

    Utrecht

    Zeeland
    Province List


    Zuid-Holland
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    Outside the Netherlands

    AADS Anglo-American Dance Service - English and American contra dancing in Flanders (northern Belgium), including series in Gent and Antwerp, dance weekends, an international dance calendar, and mail-order books & music.

    Contra Dancing in Switzerland - Barn Dance with Katja Hunn in Zurich.

    Contra Dances in Germany - ECTA Contra & Traditional. Regular and occasional dances are offered by Square Dance clubs. See also Hohenlohe Hoppers Öhringen and SRRS.

    Non-US/Canada Contra Dance Links Where to find contra dancing (New England style)outside North America. Includes hard-to-find info like Switzerland. Maintained by Charlie Seelig.

    Cologne (Keulen/Köln) Scottish Country Dancers

    Scottish Highland Dancing in Bochum, Germany

    Folksy Links! Folk Bands and Musicians for European folk music.

    Danspunt.be lists Folk Festivals in Belgium such as
      WereldDansFestival In Edegem. Yearly, August.
      World Festival of Folklore in Schoten. Yearly, July.
      Internationaal Folklorefestival Westerlo. Yearly, August.

    Webfeet: Dance contacts on the Web. Look here for major European folk dance websites, plus US & UK.

    NEFFA Linkfest Large collection of links on folk-dancing worldwide, especially USA

    Folk Dance Association, with directory of all groups in the US and Canada

    The Institute of Historical Dance (Baroque, etc.) in Belgium.

    Vitrifolk in Belgium has many folkdance links including Belgian clubs and Dutch groups.

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    This page "Folk Dancing in the Netherlands" is by Donna Richoux. Questions, additions, corrections and comments are welcome. Thanks for visiting!

    To add your folkdance group to these lists, please send an email to me at:

    Please include:
       Name of group
       Town in which it meets
       Netherlands province
       Dance Style(s)
       Web page URL
    Thank you.

    The URL for this page is: http://www.euronet.nl/~trio/

    31 May 2011

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