The history of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam shows just how important private initiative used to be. The university was not only founded in 1880 by Abraham Kuyper, but was made possible above all by private financiers such as brewer Willem Hovy. Other institutions in the Netherlands also came into being thanks to donors, volunteers, and civic engagement.
“He who pays the piper calls the tune”
This began to change in the 1960s and 1970s. The government took on more and more responsibilities through the welfare state and began to fully fund education, welfare, and social services. As a result, not only did private contributions disappear, but so did the involvement of citizens and civic organizations. Under the influence of policymakers such as sociologist Bram Peper, the government assumed a dominant position: “who pays, decides.” Private initiative lost its place at the policy tables.
Yet civic engagement did not disappear. Starting in the 1990s, a new philanthropic sector emerged, featuring charities, foundations, and scientific research into giving behavior. In addition, more and more citizen-led initiatives emerged, such as energy cooperatives, healthcare collectives, housing cooperatives, and local projects. This development shows that citizens remain committed to social causes, even outside the government sphere.
Schuyt’s research shows that civic initiatives make a significant contribution to nature, culture, sports, international aid, healthcare, and poverty reduction. Millions of Dutch people are active as volunteers. Although the government remains by far the largest source of funding in areas such as education, healthcare, and social security, citizens, volunteer organizations, and philanthropic institutions make important supplementary contributions.
Ordinary Citizens’ Activities
Schuyt points out that philanthropy in the Netherlands often has a negative image. It is associated with wealthy people, tax avoidance, or “American-style” practices. In his view, this perception is unjustified. Philanthropy is not an activity exclusive to the wealthy, but rather one undertaken by ordinary citizens. Moreover, it is not just about charity, but also about citizenship, taking responsibility, a sense of community, and social engagement. “I advocate using the more general term ‘social initiative’ more often,” says Schuyt.
Looking ahead, Schuyt advocates for a new balance between government, the market, and social initiative. He proposes establishing a national platform for social organizations and giving this sector greater attention within policy and governance. He also believes the subject deserves its own academic discipline, because every society is based on four systems: family, government, the market, and social initiative.
“The government can do a lot, but it cannot solve everything on its own. The Netherlands has a strong tradition of civic initiative. To tackle societal challenges, the government, the market, and citizens must view each other more as equal partners,” says Schuyt.