Tytsjerksteradiel Blooms!

The Ryptsjerk Village Association attended an inspirational evening hosted by Fryslân Bloeit and was inspired to organize a Bloeiweek in their village as well. The second informational evening has now taken place, and a small group of enthusiastic people will soon become the nerve center for the Bloeiweek. That is exactly the intention: that it is not Dorpsbelangen but a core group that coordinates and maintains an overview. They do not organize the activities themselves; that is done by small groups of residents or the local associations. This ensures that as many people as possible, young and old, get involved!  

The ideas currently on the table cover a wide range: from circular street decorations, birdwatching, DIY and dining, and a "Himmeldei" event to a singing workshop. As a result, several villagers are already involved in this exploratory phase. Fryslân Bloeit can provide support, but this is not mandatory. Subsidies are available from the municipality for all villages, and the citizen initiative coordinator can also contribute ideas and offer advice.  

The experience in Ryptsjerk shows that it’s important to start early and take the time to involve a broad group of residents who actively participate. It turns out that the more people are involved in the planning, the higher the turnout during Bloeiweek. In this case, it’s the Village Association taking the lead, but it could just as easily be a small group of neighbors who inspire the rest of the village. The cliché holds true for Bloeiweken as well: every beginning is difficult. One reassuring fact: all the villages that have held a Bloeiweek are wildly enthusiastic and report that the second time around is already much easier.  

We're curious to see how things will unfold in Ryptsjerk. They're one step closer to getting a great Bloeiweek off the ground!   

In mid-August, it was Eastermar’s turn to host its second Bloeiweek. Following the success of last year’s event, this year featured even more activities and even more participants. Great!

Activities

In the run-up to the festival week, villagers enthusiastically set to work decorating the streets. During the week itself, there was plenty to do: inspiring talks on blossoming and growth, an art exhibition featuring local talent in the church, and the festive opening of the new fitness trail. The village campground also attracted many visitors once again and was a huge success.

Due to the bad weather, it looked as though the Canal Concert and the Doarpsiterij might be canceled. Fortunately, thanks to a local water sports entrepreneur who made his boathouse available, these events were able to go ahead after all. 

On September 28, 2025, Earnewâld hosted its very first Bloeiweek. Following an inspiring kickoff with Fryslân Bloeit, the village sprang into action. Through presentations, brainstorming sessions, and a program distributed door-to-door, everyone was involved in the preparations.

A large tent and lots of activities

With the help of the Oranjevereniging, a large tent served as the central gathering spot near the harbor. The tent was cozy and inviting, furnished with plenty of tables and chairs, a children’s corner, and an inspiration table where people could take home or exchange cuttings and plant seeds. It was a great place for villagers to meet up. The week kicked off festively with hand-crocheted and knitted flags—an idea and call to action from the crochet café. For the first youth activity, parents and children were building boats in the autumn sunshine.  

The rest of the week was filled with surprising and educational activities. A foraging walk, a storytime picnic hosted by dbieb, a workshop on making a bee-feeding tray with beekeeper Bertus Adema, a cooking contest, ballroom dancing, and “Piksjitte op é wal.” People of all ages joined in. Many activities arose spontaneously, such as enjoying coffee together in the morning sun.

Bloeiweek showed just how wonderful it is to do things together. It led to new encounters, new conversations, and sometimes even new hobbies. Earnewâld was in full bloom… and everyone could feel it! 

On August 23, 2025, Jistrum was buzzing with excitement: the new MFA De Trochset was officially opened. The turnout was huge and the atmosphere was fantastic. After placing a time capsule, visitors were invited inside to raise a toast and enjoy the first performances, including street dance and a special song by Melle Leegstra.

The festive day transitioned seamlessly into the start of Jistrum’s first Bloeiweek. That evening, Joost Wiersma drew a full house, and on Sunday, the PKN presented a full program: a group breakfast, a service featuring the Zandtovenaar, a brunch, and a fun hexathlon.

Throughout the week, many people stopped by to participate, watch, or just have a cup of coffee. Young people pitched in wholeheartedly, and the MFA became a place for everyone. The Bloeiweek brought the village closer together: new encounters, pleasant conversations, and a strong sense of community.

Jistrum showed how a small village can have a big impact.