Frisian National Party
The Frisian National Party is a regionalist political party in the Netherlands. Founded in 1961, it is primarily involved in regional and local politics in the province of Friesland. The party advocates for the strengthening of the West Frisian language and culture, and seeks to increase self-government for the country's Frisian minority. The FNP is a full member of the European Free Alliance, and is represented in the Senate by Independent Politics Netherlands.
History
The party was founded on 16 December 1961 by and his nephew Folkert Binnema. The foundation of the party had been inspired by Indonesian president Sukarno, who criticised the Netherlands for supporting self-determination for the Papuan people, while denying the same right to the Frisians. This made Kramer and Binnema realise that a Frisian party was needed to represent the interests of Friesland.The FNP won its first seat in the provincial legislature and municipal councils in 1966. In 1981, it became a founding member of the European Free Alliance. Since 1995, the party has participated in elections to the Senate as part of the Independent Senate Group. Three FNP members have led the OSF: Hendrik ten Hoeve,, and Auke van der Goot.
The party has been a part of the Frisian provincial executive since 2011. As of 2025, it has 49 members in 11 of the 18 Frisian municipal councils. It co-operates in the municipal executives of Tytsjerksteradiel, Waadhoeke, and Noardeast-Fryslân. In Wûnseradiel and Achtkarspelen, the party supplied the mayor. Since 2020, the FNP supplies the mayor of Noardeast-Fryslân.
The party announced participated in the 2025 general election, with Aant Jelle Soepboer as its lead candidate, but it did not secure any seats in the House of Representatives.
Ideology
The FNP is a regionalist party which advocates a federal political system with more autonomy for Friesland. It also calls for protection and recognition of the Frisian language, conservation of the Frisian landscape, and Frisian control over its gas reserves.In a survey conducted in 2009, FNP members were asked to place themselves on a 7-point left–right spectrum. Of 554 respondents, 60.65% identified as either centrist, centre-left or centre-right. A relative majority placed themselves just left of the centre.