In order for angling to continue as a sport in the future, a single, strong and united angling organisation is essential. This is why the seven angling federations and Sportvisserij Nederland (Dutch angling association) are currently taking significant steps towards uniting to form one powerful organisation. This article describes what exactly is happening, and why it matters to you as an angler.
What do we mean by ‘angling for unity TOGETHER’?
There are around 700 local angling associations spread out across the Netherlands, each of which belongs to one of the seven regional angling federations. In turn, these federations are affiliated with Sportvisserij Nederland. During the General Members’ Meeting of Sportvisserij Nederland, held on 7 March 2024, the seven federations and Sportvisserij Nederland adopted the intention of dispensing with the current structure consisting of eight separate, autonomous organisations in favour of forming a single angling organisation. This is where the motto ‘angling for unity TOGETHER’ originated.
Why are we moving towards a united angling organisation?
The organisation of angling as a sport is aimed at ensuring everyone can participate in a sustainable and responsible manner. In order to achieve this, we are working towards forming a single, resolute and efficient organisation. Improved collaboration and more centralised policies will allow us to work more effectively and with greater focus on our common goals. Having a future-proof angling organisation ensures that we can be more service-oriented and tackle the challenges ahead of us.
How are we moving towards a united angling organisation?
There is still much to do before we can move forward as a single organisation. A specially established transition team is working on a unification plan, which will be presented to angling associations at the federations’ general membership meetings in mid-2025. The transition team consists of strong representation from the federations along with board members from Sportvisserij Nederland. Jan Willem Landré has been appointed programme manager and will be supporting the transition team from this ‘external’ role.
What will this mean for me as an angler in due course?
As an angler, you probably won't notice much of the work going on behind the scenes for the time being. However, we are taking these steps because we believe that by doing so, we will soon be much stronger as an organisation, and thus as an overall angling industry. For example, we will be able to focus more specifically on joint advocacy from local to international levels, do more for fish stocks and aquatic nature, improve angling opportunities, provide better service to members, and provide anglers with relevant information even more effectively.
When is the unification to take place?
The goal is for us to have formed a single joint organisation by 1 January 2026. This may seem a long way off, but there is much to do in the next year and a half in order for us to take this step. For instance, no fewer than 18 different working groups have been formed, each dealing with an aspect of the unification, and these have already got started on achieving their focused goals. They include working groups on fishing rights, control and enforcement, competitions and volunteers, as well as a special working group for a new name, corporate identity, logo and website.
How will I be kept informed, and whom can I approach with any questions?
We can imagine that as an angler, you might want to know more or have questions. The federations and Sportvisserij Nederland will keep you informed of all relevant developments through Hét VISblad, our websites, social media and the digital newsletter.