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Dutch Vegetarian Society

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Dutch Vegetarian Society
De Nederlandse Vegetariërsbond
AbbreviationNVB
Founded30 September 1894; 131 years ago (1894-09-30)
FoundersAart Verschoor, others
TypePublic benefit organization
Registration no.40407105[1]
FocusPromotion of vegetarianism and veganism
HeadquartersCelebesstraat 80, Amsterdam[1]
Region served
Netherlands
ServicesV-Label certification
MethodsEvents, consumer education, publications, partnerships with manufacturers, certification
Membersc. 4000 (2024)
Director
Floris de Graad[2]
Websitevegetariers.nl

The Dutch Vegetarian Society[a] (Dutch: De Nederlandse Vegetariërsbond, shortened to Vegetariërsbond and abbreviated as NVB) is a public benefit organization in the Netherlands that promotes vegetarianism and veganism. It was founded on 30 September 1894 after a proposal by the Rotterdam doctor Aart Verschoor. The Society has published vegetarian literature, taken part in the international vegetarian movement and administered the V-Label certification in the Netherlands. In the 21st century, its activities have included consumer information, work with food manufacturers and campaigns to reduce meat consumption.

History

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The Rotterdam doctor Aart Verschoor adopted vegetarianism after meeting the British doctor Thomas Allinson. Allinson argued that white bread contributed to illness among workers, recommended wholemeal bread and supported vegetarianism. According to Leidsch Dagblad, Verschoor's health improved after he changed his diet, and he remained a vegetarian afterwards.[2]

Verschoor distributed a pamphlet, Een Bond voor Vegetariërs! ("A Society for Vegetarians!"), which proposed a national vegetarian organization. Thirty-four individuals and thirteen associations expressed support. The inaugural meeting was held in The Hague on 30 September 1894, when the Nederlandsche Vegetariërsbond was founded. A committee of five men and three women took responsibility for the new society after difficulties in forming a leadership committee. By October 1895, it had 48 members and 42 associates. Verschoor was president and C. van der Hucht was vice-president.[4]

The Society's early work included translating vegetarian literature into Dutch, including Anna Kingsford's The Perfect Way in Diet, which appeared with a foreword by Frederik van Eeden, and publishing a vegetarian cookbook. It also organised public lectures, placed articles in newspapers and encouraged food establishments to provide vegetarian meals. Plans for a vegetarian restaurant were discussed but delayed because of financial constraints. By 1897, the Society had 64 members and 48 associates. In the same year, it began publishing Vegetarische Bode ("Vegetarian Messenger"), edited by Daniël de Clercq, Felix Ortt and C. van der Hucht. The Society was initially affiliated with the Vegetarian Federal Union, withdrew in 1897 because of concerns over political material in its publications and rejoined in 1898 after receiving assurances that the Union would remain non-political. By 1899, membership had risen to 264.[4]

The NVB was active in the international vegetarian movement from its early years. At the first congress of the International Vegetarian Union in 1908, A. Meyroos represented the Society and served on its first committee. Meyroos also supported educational work on vegetarianism in Dutch schools. In 1913, the Society hosted the IVU World Vegetarian Congress in The Hague. Hugo Nolthenius, who was president of the NVB and treasurer of the IVU during the 1920s, represented the Society in international meetings.[4]

Membership increased until the First World War and later declined during the war and the economic hardship that followed. During the Second World War, membership rose again because food coupon systems allowed vegetarians to exchange meat coupons for scarce vegetable alternatives. Interest increased in the 1970s in connection with the reform movement, and again in the 1980s through opposition to factory farming. Since the early 21st century, climate change has been a common motive for vegetarianism among the Society's members and supporters.[5]

The NVB administers the V-Label certification in the Netherlands and has set a target of reducing Dutch meat consumption by 50% by 2040, compared with 2007 levels. Its work includes consumer information, cooperation with manufacturers and work to increase the availability of vegetarian products in supermarkets.[5] As of 2024, the organization had nearly 4,000 members, a level comparable with its membership before the First World War.[2]

Notes

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  1. ^ Also translated as the Dutch Vegetarian Association.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "De Nederlandse Vegetariërsbond | Amsterdam (40407105)". TransFirm (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Green, Leonie (1 October 2024). "Vegetariërs waren eerder ook hip én waren altijd onderwerp van spot. De Vegetariërsbond bestaat al 130 jaar" [Vegetarians used to be hip and were always the subject of ridicule. The Vegetarian Society has been around for 130 years]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Environmental Effects Of Protein-Rich Food Products". Faunalytics. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "History of Netherlands Vegetarian Societies". International Vegetarian Union. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  5. ^ a b Salome, Renée (27 September 2023). "Interview: Nederlandse Vegetariërsbond maakt zich sinds 1894 sterk voor het vegetarisme" [Interview: The Dutch Vegetarian Association has been committed to vegetarianism since 1894]. Levensmiddelenkrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 April 2025.

Further reading

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