What is Freemasonry, what happens in the lodge, and how do you become a member? This page answers some of the most frequently asked questions about Freemasonry, lodge life and the Order.
Freemasonry is a method of personal development practised within the community of a lodge. Through symbolism, ritual and conversation, you develop self-knowledge, tolerance and a sense of responsibility. You search for meaning independently, while sharing that journey with others. Symbols and rituals help you explore thoughts and experiences that can be difficult to express in words.
Freemasonry is not a religion, a political organisation or a business network. It does not prescribe beliefs or serve any commercial or political interest. Instead, it offers a method of personal development within a community.
Freemasonry is intended for men who wish to work consciously on their personal development and who are open to meaningful conversation with others. What matters is a willingness to reflect, respect different perspectives and take an active part in lodge life.
Freemasonry is open to men of good standing who are willing to work on themselves and treat others with respect. Background, profession, religion, worldview or sexual orientation are no barrier. What matters is a willingness to think independently and to respect the beliefs of others.
Freemasonry is not a religion and does not prescribe any particular view of truth. It requires no specific religious belief and excludes none. Freemasons hold a wide range of worldviews: some are religious, while others are not. What unites them is a willingness to search independently for truth and meaning, while respecting the beliefs of others.
Freemasonry is not a secret organisation. Its lodges, members and activities are publicly visible. Lodge meetings do, however, take place in an atmosphere of confidentiality, allowing members to speak freely. Masonic rituals are intended to be experienced personally and are therefore not published in full – not because there is something to hide, but because personal experience and discretion are part of the method.
Freemasonry focuses primarily on the work of the lodge and is less publicly visible than many other organisations. As a result, many people know relatively little about it, even though information about the Order and its lodges is readily available.
Freemasonry has three degrees: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason. These degrees do not form a hierarchy, but represent stages in personal development. Each has its own symbolism and rituals, inviting reflection and a deeper understanding. Together, they form the foundation of Freemasonry as practised in the lodge.
Symbols and rituals help express thoughts and experiences that can be difficult to put into words. They provide a shared language and give direction to personal reflection.
Modern Freemasonry emerged in Great Britain during the eighteenth century. It drew on the symbols, customs and imagery of the historic building trades before spreading across Europe and beyond.
→ A brief history
The lodges of the Grand East of the Netherlands are open to men. This is a matter of tradition. In the Netherlands, however, there are also independent Masonic organisations for women and for both women and men, each with its own structure and character.
Freemasonry is not a political organisation and does not take positions on political issues. Its members hold a wide range of views. In the lodge, the emphasis is on open conversation rather than persuading others.
Freemasons feel a sense of connection with one another, but there is no requiremen to give fellow members preferential treatment. Freemasonry is not a business network. Mutual support arises from personal commitment, not from formal arrangements.
Lodges meet for ritual, lectures and conversation. A meeting may include a ceremonial gathering followed by a discussion known in Dutch as a comparitie. Lodge life also includes shared meals, lectures and gatherings with other lodges. Some meetings are ritual in character, while others focus primarily on discussion and reflection.
A comparitie is a meeting conducted in a distinctively Masonic form. After the routine business, one of the members presents a paper, known in Dutch as a Bouwstuk – literally, a “building piece”. This is not followed by debate. Instead, members share reflections that may broaden or deepen one another’s understanding. Partisan political or religious disputes have no place in this setting. The aim is not to persuade, but to listen, articulate your thoughts and develop your own insight.
A ritual is a ceremonial gathering with a fixed structure and symbolic actions. A comparitie is a meeting in which Freemasons exchange ideas, often in response to a paper or introduction. Both have their own distinct place in lodge life.
Most lodges meet once a week or once every two weeks. They may also organise additional activities, such as lectures, introductory evenings or gatherings with other lodges.
Freemasonry calls for regular involvement. Most members attend their lodge meetings and occasionally take part in additional activities. The level of commitment varies from person to person and from lodge to lodge.
Members are expected to attend meetings regularly and take an active part in lodge life, for example by preparing a lecture or contributing to discussions. The emphasis is on commitment and participation rather than performance. The lodge is a community in which everyone’s presence and contribution matter..
→ What is expected of you?
Many people think you have to be invited. In fact, you can contact a lodge near you directly. This is followed by a series of introductory conversations, giving both you and the lodge an opportunity to get to know one another. If the process is positive for both sides, you may be admitted.
→ How do you become a Freemason?
This varies from lodge to lodge, but it usually takes several months. This period gives both you and the lodge time to consider carefully whether Freemasonry is right for you.
Yes. Many lodges hold introductory evenings or offer informal conversations for prospective members. This gives you the opportunity to learn more, without any commitment, and decide whether Freemasonry appeals to you.
→ Public events
→ Dutch Museum of Freemasonry
The minimum age is 18. There is no maximum age.
Yes. If you move or find that another lodge is a better fit, you can transfer.
Yes. Membership is voluntary, and you can end it at any time. Because the lodge is a close-knit community, there will usually be a conversation beforehand.
A lodge is the local community in which Freemasonry is practised. Its members meet regularly for ritual, conversation and shared activities. Each lodge is legally independent and has its own character. The word ‘lodge’ refers both to the community of members and to the place where they meet.
The Order of Freemasons under the Grand East of the Netherlands is the national body to which our lodges belong. It provides continuity, coordination and international representation. When you join a lodge, you also become a member of the Order.
Alongside the three Craft degrees practised in the lodge, there are other Masonic Orders in which members can explore additional degrees, rituals and traditions. These organisations operate independently, and participation is voluntary. Membership of a lodge is generally a prerequisite. The three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason form a complete whole in themselves.
→ Other Masonic Orders
The Grand East of the Netherlands has around 5.500 members in approximately 150 lodges in the Netherlands and abroad. Worldwide, the number of Freemasons is generally estimated at between five and six million. Because Freemasonry is organised through independent grand lodges and has no single worldwide governing body, no exact total is available.
You cannot normally attend a lodge meeting, but you can meet members of a lodge. Many lodges hold introductory evenings for those who are interested. This reflects the private and confidential nature of lodge meetings.
The lodge finder on this website shows which lodges are active in your area and how to contact them.
→ Our lodges
Freemasonry is not a business network. In the lodge, members meet as equals. Personal development and conversation are central, not business interests.