Netherlands

Dutch Guide Law

Wet

1. Een padvindster/gids trekt er samen met anderen op uit om de wereld om zich heen te ontdekken en deze meer leefbaar te maken.
2. Zij is eerlijk, trouw en houdt vol.
3. Zij is spaarzaam en sober en heeft zorg voor de natuur.
4. Zij respecteert zichzelf en anderen.

Guide Law

1. A Guide goes out with others to discover the world around her and to make it more worthwhile to live in.
2. She is honest, faithful and perseveres.
3. She is thrifty, and sober and takes good care of nature.
4. She respects herself and others.

Development of the Movement

The first Guide groups appeared in the Netherlands in 1911. In 1916 six of these groups formed Het Nederlandse Meisjes Gilde, which in 1928 was a Founder Member of WAGGGS. The Association changed its name to Het Nederlandse Padvindsters Gilde in 1933.

After the Second World War there were two Guide Associations active in the Netherlands: Het Nederlandse Padvindsters Gilde, which was partially sponsored by the Ecumenical Council of Youth and the Salvation Army; and De Nederlandse Gidsen, which catered to Roman Catholic girls. These two Associations were represented in WAGGGS by a joint council, the Nationale Padvindsters Raad.

In 1967 the Federation Scouting Nederland was formed as a result of the growing co-operation between the Nationale Padvindsters Raad and the Scouting Association for boys. Since 1973 there has been one organization for girls and boys, Scouting Nederland, which combines elements from all former associations and remains open to new developments. HRH Prince Claus is patron of this merged organisation.