Governance and organisation

The Order of Freemasons under the Grand East of the Netherlands is an association of independent lodges. Its governance is entrusted to representatives of those lodges and to elected officers.

The Grand East

The Grand East is the assembly of representatives from all the lodges of the Order. It convenes at least once a year for the Annual Communication. In Dutch, both the assembly itself and its annual meeting are referred to as the Grootoosten.

As the Order’s highest decision-making body, the Grand East determines policy and elects the Central Board. Each lodge is represented by delegates, ensuring that the lodges are directly involved in the governance of the Order.

The Central Board

Day-to-day responsibility lies with the Central Board, consisting of the Grand Master, the Grand Secretary and the Grand Treasurer, together with the other board members. The Board implements policy, supports the lodges and represents the Order.

The Order’s officers serve in an unpaid capacity. The Order is largely run by volunteers, supported at national level by a small number of staff.

The lodges

Each lodge is legally independent, with its own articles of association and governing board. Lodges organise their own meetings and activities. Within the framework of the Order, each lodge retains its own character and a degree of autonomy. This balance between local independence and a shared organisational structure is one of the Order’s strengths.

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