Most Freemason lodges organise one meeting a week, usually in the evening. Some lodges meet less often: once every other week or once a month.
Meetings have either a ceremonial or conversational character. The conversational evenings are called comparisons.

The ceremonial meetings are open to Freemasons only.
Conversational meetings  allow  the members the opportunity to share very personal feelings, thoughts and opinions with each other.
Some conversational meetings are open for  non-masons (male and female), these evenings are to allow non-masons the opportunity to discover what Freemasonry is about.

Open lodge
Freemasons have their ceremonial meetings in a room specially arranged the occasion,  a symbolic ‘workplace’. Here they perform the ritual, in which a candidate is received into the brotherhood or one of the members is admitted to a higher degree. Also at these meetings the opening and closing of the masonic year is celebrated, or deceased Freemasons are remembered. When meeting is opened in a ceremonial way, Freemasons use the phrase ‘Open lodge’. Consistent with the symbolism derived from the medieval building crafts, the participants wear traditional aprons and white gloves.

Comparison
The conversational meetings, named comparisons, are less formal than the Open Lodges, though, a certain style is maintained, with focus on respectful interaction with each other. This style is an elaboration of the rituals in the Open Lodges. A comparison takes place in a meeting room in the lodge building. After the opening, common business of the lodge is addressed, for example the minutes, finances, and planning of lodge activities. Thereafter, a lodge member usually presents a lecture which is called “a building piece”. He addresses a subject which interests him and could also be important to other members. After the lecture the subject is discussed, sometimes very profoundly. Afterwards drinks are available and the members remain to talk to each other for a shorter or longer amount of time.

Getting acquainted.
Meetings where non-masons are welcome, are usually published on this website in the “Activities agenda” in the section “Current”.  In the section ‘Lodges’ the telephone numbers of all lodges in the Netherlands  are listed. The lodges will gladly provide you with further information.