The story of Heit&mem.frl

“Our target group found the switch to .frl perfectly logical.”

-Dieuwke van der Meer, editor-in-chief Heit & Mem

‘Heit’ or ‘Mem’. For many babies, these are the first words they babble. You could say that the Frisian language is instilled from an early age. Yet a multilingual raising is not always guaranteed. The magazine Heit & Mem encourages parents to do so. What started as a printed magazine has grown into a multimedia platform supported by Afûk, the language institute dedicated to promoting the Frisian language. We spoke to Dieuwke van der Meer, editor-in-chief of Heit & Mem, about the role the magazine plays in preserving the Frisian language and the contribution of .frl.

A strong foundation for multilingualism

Heit & Mem’s goal is clear: to inform parents, particularly expectant ones, about the benefits of multilingual education. “We demonstrate that the Frisian language provides a sense of belonging and is also crucial for children’s language development,” says Dieuwke. “People know Heit & Mem from our magazine, which is published twice a year, and we have a popular website. We are also active on social media and publish the ‘Lytse Heit & Mem’ magazine for parents with babies or expecting them. We have also created a podcast. And that’s just a selection of our work!”

From 0 to 12 years old

The ‘Mienskip’ plays a major role in creating Heit & Mem. “We collaborate with parents and writers to share stories that resonate with Frisian families. One popular section is ‘Sa prate wy thús’, where families discuss how they incorporate different languages into their home life. We always find families with interesting stories because the Fryske Mienskip actively responds to our calls and shares them. We can count on them.”

.frl fits us perfectly

Heit & Mem ran on a .nl domain for a long time, but when developing the new website, the choice for .frl was made quickly. “It fits perfectly,” says Dieuwke. “Heit and Mem are Frisian words, and we want to promote the Frisian language and culture as strongly as possible. So a Frisian domain name is a logical step. It underlines what we stand for and makes it immediately clear that we are a Frisian platform. .frl is a statement. If we don’t do it, who will?”

We are bilingual, but the Frisian language always comes first

Heit & Mem is not entirely in Frisian, and that is a conscious choice. “We are in favour of multilingualism,” Dieuwke explains. “Not everyone who understands Frisian can read it well. That’s why we write some longer or more specialised articles in Dutch, but always with a Frisian headline or quote. This keeps it accessible without losing our Frisian identity.”

A future with Frysk on our lips

Heit & Mem continues to develop. “We are always looking for ways to reach our target group more effectively. Whether through the website, the magazine or social media, our aim is to inspire parents to raise their children to be multilingual. Whether that’s through keeping the magazine on the coffee table or via an Instagram post. Our core values remain the same: the Frisian language is valuable, and we help parents pass it on.”

Are you proud to be Frisian or an entrepreneur in Friesland? Then claim your .frl domain!

Watch the video series we made with Heit & Mem here: