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| Stichting Lezen | |
|---|---|
| Name | Stichting Lezen |
| Formation | 1993 |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Headquarters | The Hague |
| Region served | Netherlands |
Stichting Lezen
Stichting Lezen is a Dutch non-profit organization focused on promoting reading and literacy across the Netherlands. It collaborates with municipal libraries, educational institutions, cultural institutions, and media partners to stimulate reading among children, adolescents, and adults. The foundation engages with a wide network including municipal authorities such as Municipality of Amsterdam, cultural institutions like Rijksmuseum, and educational partners such as University of Amsterdam and Hogeschool van Amsterdam.
Stichting Lezen was founded in the early 1990s amid a European movement including organizations such as Gemeentelijke Bibliotheekvoorziening Amsterdam and initiatives comparable to BookTrust in the United Kingdom and Bibliothèque nationale de France. Early milestones involved cooperation with national bodies like Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap and local partners including Rotterdam Public Library and Utrecht University. Over the decades it has intersected with cultural events such as Boekenweek, collaborations with publishers like Querido and Singel Uitgeverijen, and projects aligned with arts institutions including Stedelijk Museum and Teylers Museum.
The foundation's mission emphasizes reading promotion similar to campaigns by Reading Is Fundamental and National Literacy Trust. Activities include developing reading campaigns modeled after international examples like World Book Day and partnering with media outlets such as NRC Handelsblad, De Volkskrant, and broadcasters like Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. It works with schools represented by PO-Raad and VO-raad, youth services such as Jeugdbibliotheek and cultural education networks including Cultuur+School.
Programs range from early literacy projects akin to Reach Out and Read and family reading initiatives comparable to Little Free Library to adult reading promotion paralleling Adult Learners' Week. Notable initiatives involve collaborations with festivals like Kinderboekenfestival and awards coordinated with institutions such as Stichting CPNB and literary prizes like Gouden Griffel. The foundation has run campaigns in conjunction with publishers including Prometheus and Atlas Contact and partnered with arts organizations such as Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest and theaters like Internationaal Theater Amsterdam for cross-disciplinary projects.
The foundation is governed by a board and supervisory structure similar to governance models at Mondriaan Fonds and Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds. It works alongside municipal libraries including Bibliotheek Rotterdam and national library institutions like Koninklijke Bibliotheek. Executive functions have involved professionals with backgrounds at organizations such as Cultural Participation Netherlands and educational institutions including Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Funding sources include grants and contracts comparable to funding from Nederlandse Taalunie, project support from foundations like Fonds 21 and VSBfonds, and partnerships with private publishers including Singel, WPG Publishers, and Bruna. Corporate collaborations have included media partnerships with broadcasters such as Omroep MAX and corporate social responsibility projects with entities similar to ING Group and Rabobank in the Netherlands.
Impact evaluation draws on methodologies used by research centers such as NRO (Nederlands Onderwijsonderzoek), SEO Economisch Onderzoek, and academic partners including Radboud University Nijmegen and Leiden University. Outcome measures include reading frequency, literacy attainment comparable to datasets maintained by Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek and international benchmarks like Programme for International Student Assessment and International Literacy Association reports. Evaluations have been discussed at conferences hosted by Amsterdam Prize for the Arts and seminars organized with KNAW affiliates.
Publications and resources produced or disseminated through the foundation reflect practices similar to guides from Sage Publications and reports circulated by Stichting Lezen partners including Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Nederlands Letterkundig Museum, and academic presses such as Amsterdam University Press. Resources have been showcased at events like Leiden International Book Fair and referenced in policy discussions involving Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport and cultural policy forums such as Adviesraad voor Cultuur.
Category:Cultural organisations based in the Netherlands Category:Literacy