Lodge Willem Fredrik initiates a maximum of five new members per year. We invite free men of good standing, from all walks of life, colourful and of any creed, to contact us if they are curious.
Our lodge meets twice per month, currently on the first Monday and fourth Friday of the month. The Friday evenings are usually reserved for more festive masonic occasions.
Twice per year we organize a public lecture, where anyone who is interested is most welcome. An informal meeting, which allows for a more personal acquaintance and in depth conversation, with one or more of our members is always possible as well.
You haven’t found any specific names of our members on this website. This isn’t because we do not wish to be open or transparent, but because we value our and your privacy in a time where everything is considered to have to be public information and digitally accessible.
Should you wish to contact us,
Our postal address is:
Loge Willem Fredrik
Vondelstraat 39
1054 GJ Amsterdam
Or contact the secretary our lodge via:
secretaris@willemfredrik.nl
Loge Willem Fredrik has been designated by the Dutch State as a “Public Benefit Organisation” (ANBI). RSIN: 816044636
Our lodge is registered in the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 40536161
Lodge Willem Fredrik organises open gatherings throughout the year with guest-speakers. The lodge, regardless of it’s private nature, attaches value to being part of this world . By inviting speakers that address important social issues and developments and at the same time involve friends and those who are interested. In the conversation after the lecture, we strive to follow the free mason’s method: dialogue instead of discussion and debate, in which we listen well and respect one another’s points of view, even if we do not agree. This leaves intact the possibility to adjust one’s opinion under the influence of others.
Below you find a selection of the speakers that have visited our lodge and the topics they have discussed.
Professor and columnist about freedom of conscience. ‘Polarisation is material in politics, but in a finite way’.
Zweistra studied law and philosophy at Utrecht University and the University of East London. He worked as a self-employed lawyer. He is also the author of books including Waarheidszoekers (Truth Seekers) and Complotdenkers (Conspiracy Thinkers). Since 2016 he has organised courses, lectures and podcasts in collaboration with the Centre Erasme foundation. In 2019 he obtained his doctorate from Delft University of Technology with a dissertation in the philosophy of technology on the impact of technology on human individuality and interpersonal relationships. In Cees’s words, we should not be naive enough to think that technology, in the hands of commercial companies, will simply solve this problem for us. We will have to have this discussion with one another ourselves, and our closing discussion meeting was a good first step.
Former Dutch Prime Minister and professor of criminal Law at the University of Nijmegen about the Isreali-Palestinian matter.
Film maker about the Manifest for Freedom of Speech. Urgent and rough after the killing of Theo van Gogh.
Author of the book ‘Think like a manager, don’t act like one’ (2016) about support for sustainability. ‘Can a artistic and craft-like approach help in the creation of a sustainable economy?’
Former CEO of Rabobank, former member of the Dutch Social Economic Council (SER) about circular economy. ‘How can we minimise value destruction and strive for value creation in every link of the system?’
Culinary advisor and editor of ‘Food, what we eat and taking our responsibility in the food chain’. “What you get is not always what you see. Can we still say: ‘Bon Appetit’?”
Maarten de Vries, former director of the Maitreya Institute in Emst and Loenen, has served as deputy director since 2017. He has been closely involved with Tibetan Buddhism since 2001. Maarten will give an introduction on “The Power of Compassion,” looking at how empathy helps build understanding, tolerance and a sense of connection. After the talk there will be a discussion, and you are warmly invited to share your thoughts.
Our guest speaker this evening is Maarten Zweers, an experienced Freemason who will give us deeper insight into the philosophy and value of Freemasonry. In an accessible way, Maarten will explain how Freemasonry strives for personal growth and a better understanding of the world around us through rituals, symbolism, brotherhood and lodge discussions. He will show us how the ideas of freedom, brotherhood and self-development take shape within the lodge, and how all of this contributes to a process of self-discovery and deepening. With his personal stories and clear explanations, Maarten will offer a unique glimpse into what makes Freemasonry so special, and how its values remain relevant in modern society.
Author of the book “Jacob van Lennep – an inspired rascal”. A lecture about an inspiring man and writer who, for his age, achieved visionary goals, such as the realisation of the Amsterdam drinking water network. Van Lennep was a member of Lodge Willem Fredrik and wrote satirically about ‘the physiology of the Freemason’.
Author of ‘The Pocket Philosopher for entrepreneurs’ (2015) about the power of wisdom. ‘Can philosophy help us solve our everyday practical problems?’
Michiel Zonneveld, winner of the 2003 Anne Vondeling Prize for political journalism, will speak about “An Alternative Plan for Society,” inspired by the 1935 Plan of Labour (Plan van de Arbeid). He will address questions such as: how do we strengthen dignity, freedom and shared prosperity? And how can we live together well? The lecture will be followed by a discussion meeting, and you are warmly invited to share your thoughts.
Mikkel left the dealing room in the London City and founded ‘Lifeguard’, aimed at improving vitality within organisations. Mikkel Hofstee calls for people to live closer to their nature, and to let progress work for us.
Chairman of Triodos Bank about the situation in the world after Lehman Brothers. ‘What can we learn, or can we learn anything from the financial crisis and her aftermath?
Author of ‘Bits, Bytes and consciousness’. A book in which she shows us the world of Biohacking, Tranhumanism, Holistic Hacking and Slow Tech. Self-realisation and -development through this ‘Know Thyself’ has been the goal of Freemasonry for already three decades; a unique method and source of inspiration for her members.
