In 2010, WMNL arranged a photo competition around monumental buildings and objects ("rijksmonumenten"): Wiki Loves Monuments (WLM). In September 2011, the photo competition will take place in several European countries, in collaboration with the Wikimedia chapters in concern. WMNL members Lodewijk Gelauff and MaartenD travelled to other countries to explain the concept. On March 18th-20th Lodewijk attended the Wikimedia Conference in Wroclaw (Poland), on March 20th MaartenD gave a workshop at WMDE's General Meeting in Berlin (Germany). In March, for about ten countries confirmed that they were going to participate.
In the Netherlands it was arranged that Cultural Heritage institution "Heemschut" will sponsor WLM 2011 with PR and other help in the Netherlands itself. Stichting Open Monumentdag, that organizes the general day of the open monument, will help too.
On 25-27 March, Paul and Siebrand represented Wikimedia Nederland at the Wikimedia Chapters Meeting in Berlin, Germany. Lodewijk presented Wiki Loves Monuments in a seperate session.
The Dutch chapter sent 75,000 EUR to the Foundation with regard to the Fundraising of 2009/2010, and 150,000 EUR with regard to the Fundraising of 2010/2011.
Professionalization is an ongoing process. An office space has been rented starting April 1 in the city center of Utrecht (a city centrally located in the country).
On March 27, Wikimedia Nederland existed exactly 5 years. Since this was the last day of the chapters meeting in Berlin, we celebrated this with our international collegues with cake: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:VWN5jaar.jpg
On 28-29 March, Lodewijk and Siebrand attended Global Melt (workshop about exchanging knowledge in organizing events for Global movements) in Berlin, Germany
In April some progress has been made in finding good partners for the Dutch edition of Wiki Loves Monuments. Also the first meeting of all volunteers (in the Wikimedia Nederland Office) took place to coordinate things. Lodewijk visited the Portuguese chapter to give a workshop on Wiki Loves Monuments and help brainstorm on how to organize it most effectively.
On April 2nd, a General assembly elected a new board (see in English [1]). Lodewijk Gelauff, Jose Spierts and Marianne Korpershoek left the board. Marco Swart, Paul Becherer, Maarten Brinkerink and Siebrand Mazeland remained on the board, while Ziko van Dijk, Jane Darnell and Austin Hair joined. On April 7th, the new board elected Ziko van Dijk the new president.
The General assembly also commemorated the 5th anniversary of the Dutch chapter with a cake. There was also a discussion about work groups. Consequently, those were arranged newly.
According to a press release of Nationaal Archief and Spaarnestad Photo, the photographs released in September 2010 are often viewed on Wikimedia projects. Those are ca. 1000 photographs of Dutch contemporary history. Wikipedia articles with these photographs have been viewed nearly two million times in August-December 2010. On average, a photograph on Wikipedia has been viewed 500 times more often than on the page of the original database. See http://beeldenvoordetoekomst.nl/sites/default/files/NA_SPP_effectmeting_0.pdf
Since April 1st the Dutch chapter has dedicated office space at Mariaplaats 3 in Utrecht: two rooms, and we can use a conference room for our board meetings.
Since April 16th the Dutch chapter has its first professional staff. Former board member Marjon Bakker works part time and occupies the office usually two days a week. She is hired as a freelance for six months. Her tasks are to accompany the further professionalization, to build up the office and support the communication of the chapter.
Lodewijk presented Wikipedia/Wikimedia on "Demystifying Digital", organized by Hill & Knowlton in Schiphol/Amsterdam Airport.
Ad Huikeshoven initiated the plannings for a new Wikimedia Conferentie Nederland, a group met on April 6th in Utrecht. The last regular WCN happened in 2008. 2010 saw at least a mini conference where amongst other things we presented the winners of Wiki Loves Monuments. The 2011 edition is scheduled for November 5th.
Wikipedia Ten in Dutch (WPNL10) is an event to celebrate ten years of Wikipedia in Dutch. Ciell took the lead, and together with Ziko she visited some locations in Den Bosch. This southern city has been chosen in order not to be always in Holland/Utrecht and to move towards Flemish Wikipedians. The event will happen on June 18th, a Saturday. The real birthday is Sunday.
The chapter sent out a press release on the occasion of the first ten million files on Wikimedia Commons. Some minor professional magazines and one larger Belgian online newspaper reported.
This is the chapter report for Wikimedia Nederland for May 2011.
A number of WMNL board members and volunteers attended the Hackathon that took place in Berlin, Germany. Both Maarten Dammers and Lodewijk Gelauff attended a parallel Wiki Loves Monuments European meetup there to coordinate efforts around Europe and share experiences, see commons:Commons:Wiki Loves Monuments 2011/May Meeting/Notes/Results for a report.
Maarten Brinkerink reported in the May board meeting about a extraordinary number of contacts. Frequently a contact does not necessarily mean that it will result in something, but he could already report confidentially about some very promising initiatives on the way.
May 2011 was the month of some catching-up with regard to outreach materials: two roll-ups, stickers, buttons etc. The new website, replacing the old wiki (which will remain for the chapter itself), was still in beta phase.