Frisian National Party

Frisian National Party Fryske Nasjonale Partij
Abbreviation	FNP
Chairperson	Jan Arendz
Founders	Pyt Kramer  [ fy; nl ] Folkert Binnema
Founded	16 December 1961;63 years ago (1961-12-16)
Headquarters	Obrechtstraat 32, Leeuwarden
Youth wing	FNP Jongerein
Ideology	Regionalism Frisian-speaking minority interests Frisian nationalism
Political position	Big tent, centre-left leaning [1]
National affiliation	Independent Politics Netherlands
European affiliation	European Free Alliance
Colours	Navy blue   Red
Senate	0 / 75
House of Representatives	0 / 150
European Parliament	0 / 31
Provincial Council of Friesland	4 / 43
Wetterskip Fryslân	2 / 25
Municipal councils in Friesland	49 / 408
Website
fnp.frl
Politics of the Netherlands Political parties Elections

The Frisian National Party (West Frisian : Fryske Nasjonale Partij, FNP; Dutch : Friese Nationale Partij) is a regionalist political party in the Netherlands. Founded in 1961, it is primarily involved in regional and local politics in the province of Friesland. The party advocates for the strengthening of the West Frisian language and culture, and seeks to increase self-government for the country's Frisian minority. The FNP is a full member of the European Free Alliance (EFA), and is represented in the Senate by Independent Politics Netherlands (OPNL).

History

The party was founded on 16 December 1961 by Pyt Kramer  [ fy; nl ] and his nephew Folkert Binnema. ^{[2] [3]} The foundation of the party had been inspired by Indonesian president Sukarno, who criticised the Netherlands for supporting self-determination for the Papuan people, while denying the same right to the Frisians. ^[2] This made Kramer and Binnema realise that a Frisian party was needed to represent the interests of Friesland. ^[2]

The FNP won its first seat in the provincial legislature and municipal councils in 1966. In 1981, it became a founding member of the European Free Alliance. Since 1995, the party has participated in elections to the Senate as part of the Independent Senate Group (OSF). Three FNP members have led the OSF: Hendrik ten Hoeve (2003–2011), Gerben Gerbrandy  [ fy; nl ] (2019–2021), and Auke van der Goot (2023–present).

Former logo of the FNP

The party has been a part of the Frisian provincial executive since 2011. As of 2025, it has 49 members in 11 of the 18 Frisian municipal councils. It co-operates in the municipal executives of Tytsjerksteradiel, Waadhoeke, and Noardeast-Fryslân. In Wûnseradiel and Achtkarspelen, the party supplied the mayor. Since 2020, the FNP supplies the mayor of Noardeast-Fryslân.^{[ citation needed ]}

In July 2025, the party announced its intention to participate in the 2025 general election, with Aant Jelle Soepboer as its lead candidate. ^[4]

Ideology

The FNP is a regionalist party which advocates a federal political system with more autonomy for Friesland. It also calls for protection and recognition of the Frisian language, conservation of the Frisian landscape, and Frisian control over its gas reserves. ^[5]

Political position of FNP members
28 77 156 97 83 41 14 58 1 Left 2 ‹ · · 3 · · · 4 · · · 5 · · · 6 · · › 7 Right  ?	Total: 554

Result of a membership survey conducted in 2009 ^[6]

In a survey conducted in 2009, FNP members were asked to place themselves on a 7-point left–right spectrum. Of 554 respondents, 60.65% identified as either centrist, centre-left or centre-right (scores 3 to 5). ^[6] A relative majority (156 respondents, 28.16%) placed themselves just left of the centre (score 3). ^[6]

Election results

The party's electorate is limited to Friesland, where it dominates in the western and north-eastern part of the mainland of the province. In rural Littenseradiel, the FNP got nearly 28% of the votes and became the largest party in 2003. In 2010, 33.9% of the people voted FNP in rural Skarsterlân.

Provincial Council of Friesland

Election	Lead candidate	Votes	Share	Seats won	+/–	Government
1966	Jan Bearn Singelsma  [ fy ]	6,647	2.40%	1 / 55	New	Opposition
1970		11,014	4.54%	2 / 55	1	Opposition
1974		21,738	7.44%	4 / 55	2	Opposition
1978		15,878	4.76%	2 / 55	2	Opposition
1982	Geeske Krol-Benedictus [7]	17,333	5.40%	3 / 55	1	Opposition
1987		15,115	4.49%	2 / 55	1	Opposition
1991		17,321	6.09%	3 / 55	1	Opposition
1995	Jan van der Baan [8]	17,046	6.37%	3 / 55	0	Opposition
1999	[ ? ]	21,333	8.39%	4 / 55	1	Opposition
2003	Johannes Kramer  [ fy; nl ]	36,871	13.22%	7 / 55	3	Opposition
2007		28,225	10.68%	5 / 43	2	Opposition
2011	Annigje Toering	25,116	8.45%	4 / 43	1	Coalition
2015	Johannes Kramer	25,027	9.46%	4 / 43	0	Coalition
2019		23,662	7.93%	4 / 43	0	Coalition
2023	Sijbe Knol	27,251	8.04%	4 / 43	0	Coalition

See also

• South Schleswig Voters' Association
• The Frisians

References

1. van der Zwet, Arno (2013). European integration and autonomist parties: a Scottish National Party and Frisian National Party perspective (PDF). Annual Conference of the Political Studies Association. p. 4. In recent years the party has also become more mainstream [...]. It has broadened its policy agenda and positions itself more or less as a centre left progressive political party.
2. "Ús ferhaal". FNP (in Western Frisian). Retrieved 23 July 2025.
3. "Nieuwe partij vraagt Fries zelfbestuur". Friese Koerier (in Dutch). Delpher. 13 January 1962. p. 8.
4. "Kamerlid Soepboer levert 'in goed overleg' NSC-zetel in om lijsttrekker FNP te worden". NOS (in Dutch). 11 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
5. FNP program 2011-2015 for the Provincial Elections, fnp.nl.
6. van der Zwet, Arno (14 July 2014). "Frisian National Party Membership Survey". University of Strathclyde. doi:10.15129/6bf2133d-ae59-4d30-9b42-0bf16a92f23c.
7. "Lijsten van kandidaten". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). Delpher. 9 February 1991. p. 16.
8. "Jan van der Baan lijsttrekker FNP". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). Delpher. 1 October 1994. p. 20.

External links

• Official website (in West Frisian)