Difference between revisions of "Netherlands NGO Sector"
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| − | + | The Netherlands is one of Europe’s leading participators in not-for-profit and international aid activities. “‘The non- profit sector [is] a huge economic source in the Netherlands, accounting for substantial shares of national expenditures and employment… a $60 billion industry”’ (Salamon and Sokolowski 2004). The Netherlands is home to many international organizations, for example, the greenpeaceGreenpeace, and is largely involved in international developmental activities. “‘Surprisingly few people seem to realize that the Netherlands is one of the leading countries in global civil society building, and that the Dutch government is one of the leading donors to non-governmental organizations throughout the world.”’ (Evaluation of the Theme based Cofinancing 2003). Compared to neighboring European countries, the Netherlands clearly stands out in its non-for-profit, charitable activities. <membersonly> | |
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The not-for-profit sector is not a well established, noror clearly defined term in the Netherlands. Anyone using the term has to be more specific as to what they mean. ‘“The attribute non profitnonprofit (not translated in Dutch), however, is commonly used. Non-profit organizations are essentially defined in legal terms’” (Burger and Dekker 1997). Because of this, the non-profit sector is not always a well established, nor clearly defined term in the Netherlands. The major groups of the nonprofitnonprofit sector are education, healthcare and social services (Burger and Dekker 1997). | The not-for-profit sector is not a well established, noror clearly defined term in the Netherlands. Anyone using the term has to be more specific as to what they mean. ‘“The attribute non profitnonprofit (not translated in Dutch), however, is commonly used. Non-profit organizations are essentially defined in legal terms’” (Burger and Dekker 1997). Because of this, the non-profit sector is not always a well established, nor clearly defined term in the Netherlands. The major groups of the nonprofitnonprofit sector are education, healthcare and social services (Burger and Dekker 1997). | ||
| − | + | ‘“The main types of nonprofit organizations in the Netherlands are associations (vereniging), foundations (stichting), and churches’” (Burger and Dekker 1997). Associations and foundations are being the most common. Examples of foundations and associations are ‘“housing, medical, legal financial technological help, orphanages, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries, museums, worker’sworker’s training, research facilities, the advancement of music, drama and other arts, and other activities which are beneficial to society or certain groups, such as, for example, professional associations, labour unions and political parties’” (Burger and Dekker 1997). Associations are member based (formal [legal] and informal) and foundations can not have members. Many churches like to be considered a foundation or association because ‘“the civil code does not provide for formal or material rules for churches, a religious group may be in doubt about its legal personality’” (Burger and Dekker 1997). Other types of non profits are cooperatives and mutual societies, as well as public law institutions. To be considered non profit, an organization has to have the following attributes: | |
#Oorganized – ‘“institutional reality’” | #Oorganized – ‘“institutional reality’” | ||
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(Burger and Dekker 1997) | (Burger and Dekker 1997) | ||
| − | Because | + | Because statistical information regarding non profit’s size and activities are scarce and are hard to find, in ‘“The non profit sector in the Netherlands’”, the authors take upon themselves the task to quantify the Netherlands non-profit sector. The Netherlands non-profit sector is significant due to its role in national employment. ‘“It provides about 660,000 full-time equivalent jobs.’” The non-profit sector therefore is a huge part of the economy of Netherlands, ‘“its expenditure amounts to almost NGL 65 billion (about EUR 45 billion) annually, and its added value amounts to NLG 65 billion (about EUR 30 billion).… Non-profit expenditures reach 15.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Non-profit paid fte full time employment (FTE)employment accounts for 12.3% of fte employment in the whole economy, and 12.9% of non-agricultural employment.’” The above is shown below in Table 1, Key figures of the Dutch non profits sector. |
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Healthcare is the largest employer in the non-profit sector, 4 out of 10 jobs are in healthcare, with education being second largest sector (Burger and Dekker 2001), see figure Table 2 above. | Healthcare is the largest employer in the non-profit sector, 4 out of 10 jobs are in healthcare, with education being second largest sector (Burger and Dekker 2001), see figure Table 2 above. | ||
| − | The twentieth century saw a large growth in the amount of non-profits in the Netherlands due to pillarization. ‘“The result was that organizations such as political parties, labour unions, housing associations, newspapers, broadcasting associations, and also schools, hospitals and sports clubs formed along the lines of the main Dutch religious denominations’” (Avry and Veldheer 2001). ‘“Very important for the shape and size of the Dutch noprofitnonprofits sector was the so called pillarization process, which started in the second half of the nineteenth century’” (Burger and Dekker 1997). ‘“Pillarization is the process in which groups of citizens organize themselves along religious and political lines. Pillarization took place in all socioeconomic, political and cultural spheres’” (Burger and Dekker 1997). The reason for pillarization is considered to be due to three elements: ‘“emancipation for socialist workers and for all Catholic and Calvinists (from lower to upper class), and social control by the elitist of all denominations over their flock’” (Burger and Dekker 1997). | + | The twentieth century saw a large growth in the amount of non-profits in the Netherlands due to pillarization. ‘“The result was that organizations such as political parties, labour unions, housing associations, newspapers, broadcasting associations, and also schools, hospitals and sports clubs formed along the lines of the main Dutch religious denominations’” (Avry and Veldheer 2001). ‘“Very important for the shape and size of the Dutch noprofitnonprofits sector was the so called pillarization process, which started in the second half of the nineteenth century’” (Burger and Dekker 1997). ‘“Pillarization is the process in which groups of citizens organize themselves along religious and political lines. Pillarization took place in all socioeconomic, political and cultural spheres’” (Burger and Dekker 1997). The reason for pillarization is considered to be due to three elements: ‘“emancipation for socialist workers and for all Catholic and Calvinists (from lower to upper class), and social control by the elitist of all denominations over their flock’” (Burger and Dekker 1997). |
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==International NGO== | ==International NGO== | ||
Latest revision as of 07:21, 17 July 2008
The Netherlands is one of Europe’s leading participators in not-for-profit and international aid activities. “‘The non- profit sector [is] a huge economic source in the Netherlands, accounting for substantial shares of national expenditures and employment… a $60 billion industry”’ (Salamon and Sokolowski 2004). The Netherlands is home to many international organizations, for example, the greenpeaceGreenpeace, and is largely involved in international developmental activities. “‘Surprisingly few people seem to realize that the Netherlands is one of the leading countries in global civil society building, and that the Dutch government is one of the leading donors to non-governmental organizations throughout the world.”’ (Evaluation of the Theme based Cofinancing 2003). Compared to neighboring European countries, the Netherlands clearly stands out in its non-for-profit, charitable activities.
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