Humanistisch Verbond

Humanistisch Verbond (HV) is a Dutch association grounded in secular humanism. It brings together people who identify with a humanist worldview and works both as a community organization and as an advocate for the social recognition of non-religious perspectives. Its central premise is that people are responsible for their own choices while also sharing responsibility for other people and the environment. From that premise, the organization emphasizes self-determination, equal treatment, tolerance, freedom of choice, and personal responsibility. The association was established on 17 February 1946, shortly after the Second World War. Its founders and early supporters viewed the spread of spiritual nihilism and the marginalization of non-religious people as issues that required an organized humanist response. Among the initiators were Jaap van Praag, Garmt Stuiveling, and Jan Brandt Corstius. Henriette Polak, widow of the freethinker and humanist Leo Polak, was also closely involved. The original ambition was to unite humanists and to develop, disseminate, and defend a humanist outlook in Dutch public life. HV describes itself as both a source of inspiration and a place for encounter. Its contemporary public identity is associated with the motto “Zelf denken, samen leven,” translated as “Thinking for yourself, living together.” The motto combines individual intellectual independence with social solidarity. Rather than presenting humanism solely as an abstract philosophy, the association connects it with questions of meaning, ethical decision-making, democratic citizenship, equality, and the organization of everyday life without reliance on religious authority. Its practical work includes humanist mental care, humanist guidance around funerals, relationship celebrations, and formative or educational activities. These services are intended for people who want ceremonies, conversations, and support framed by humanist values. The organization also formulates humanist perspectives on current social, ethical, worldview, and personal questions, and represents the interests of people who recognize themselves in humanism. HV operates primarily in the Netherlands through membership, public discussion, local activity, advocacy, and service provision. The organization reported approximately 17,000 paying members in 2022, compared with about 13,000 in 2016. It is one of the founders of the Dutch Humanistische Alliantie and participates in wider European and international humanist networks, including the European Humanist Federation and the International Humanist and Ethical Union. Its institutional history includes a succession of chairs drawn from Dutch public, academic, political, and humanist circles. The association remains an active Dutch representative of organized secular humanism.

Humanistisch Verbond was founded in the Netherlands on 17 February 1946, in the aftermath of the Second World War. Its emergence reflected concern among Dutch humanists that spiritual nihilism and the exclusion or belittling of non-religious people had contributed to a weakened moral and civic culture. The association was intended to provide an organized home for humanists and to develop, communicate, and defend a humanist worldview. The founding circle included Jaap van Praag, Garmt Stuiveling, and Jan Brandt Corstius. Henriette Polak, whose late husband Leo Polak had been a prominent freethinker and humanist, was also closely associated with the foundation. J. Hoetink briefly served as chair in 1946 before Jaap van Praag led the organization for more than two decades. During its early period, HV helped establish organized humanism as a visible current in Dutch public and cultural life. Over time, the association's work expanded beyond philosophical and ideological discussion. It developed services and activities for people seeking non-religious forms of support around significant life events and personal questions. These included humanist mental care, funeral guidance, relationship celebrations, and formative education. At the same time, HV continued to articulate humanist responses to social and ethical issues, particularly those involving autonomy, equality, freedom of choice, tolerance, and responsibility. The organization's identity is summarized by the Dutch slogan “Zelf denken, samen leven,” or “Thinking for yourself, living together.” This phrase expresses a balance between individual independence and social responsibility. HV presents itself as a source of inspiration, a meeting place, and an advocate for people who identify with humanism. Its activities therefore combine membership association, public-interest advocacy, education, community building, and practical services. HV became one of the founders of the Dutch Humanistische Alliantie and also joined broader humanist networks, including the European Humanist Federation and the International Humanist and Ethical Union. These relationships connect its Dutch work to wider debates about secularism, freedom of conscience, human rights, and the role of non-religious worldviews in public life. The chairmanship has passed through a number of figures since the foundation, including Jaap van Praag, Max Rood, Rob Tielman, Jan Glastra van Loon, Paul Cliteur, Marjan Verkerk, Liesbeth Mulder, Frits van Vugt, Roger van Boxtel, Rein Zunderdorp, and Boris van der Ham. Mardjan Seighali became chair in 2020. The association reported approximately 13,000 paying members in 2016 and about 17,000 in 2022, indicating growth in its membership base during that period. HV remains an active Dutch organization representing secular humanist values and providing related community and care services.

• 2022

  Reported membership reaches approximately 17,000

  [1]Humanistisch Verbonden.wikipedia.org

  The organization reported about 17,000 paying members, compared with approximately 13,000 in 2016.

• 2020

  Mardjan Seighali becomes chair

  [1]Humanistisch Verbonden.wikipedia.org

  Mardjan Seighali succeeded Boris van der Ham as chair.

• 2012

  Boris van der Ham becomes chair

  [1]Humanistisch Verbonden.wikipedia.org

  Boris van der Ham assumed the chairmanship, serving until 2020.

• 1946

  Humanistisch Verbond founded

  [1]Humanistisch Verbonden.wikipedia.org

  The association was established on 17 February in response to concerns about spiritual nihilism and the marginalization of non-religious people after the Second World War.

• 1946

  Jaap van Praag begins long chairmanship

  [1]Humanistisch Verbonden.wikipedia.org

  After the brief initial chairmanship of J. Hoetink, Jaap van Praag led the association from 1946 until 1969.

A Dutch membership association and civic platform for secular humanism, combining worldview development, community formation, public advocacy, and humanist life-event and care services.

• Care and counseling

  Humanist mental care

  Support based on humanist principles for people dealing with personal, existential, or ethical questions. The service reflects HV's emphasis on autonomy, personal responsibility, tolerance, and meaning-making without requiring a religious framework.

• Life-event service

  Humanist funeral guidance

  Speeches and guidance for funerals that frame remembrance and grief through a secular humanist perspective. The service provides a non-religious alternative for families and individuals who want a ceremony centered on personal stories, relationships, values, and human dignity.

• Life-event service

  Humanist relationship celebrations

  Ceremonial support for relationships and other personal milestones. These celebrations are designed around the people involved and their chosen commitments rather than religious doctrine, consistent with the association's focus on freedom of choice and self-determination.

• Education

  Humanist formative education

  Educational and formative activities that introduce humanist approaches to worldview, ethics, personal responsibility, and living together. The offering supports HV's broader objective of developing and communicating humanist perspectives on personal and public questions.

1. 1Humanistisch Verbonden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Humanistisch Verbond official websitehumanistischverbond.nl