The number of choral singers in the Netherlands is on the rise again. With that, the recovery after corona - which did great damage in the choral world - has now really started. This is the conclusion of Koornetwerk Nederland, based on the numbers of singers of the 15 choral associations affiliated to the umbrella organisation. Reference date was 1 January 2024.

While the increase in the number of people singing together is small - compared to 2023 - at 0.17%, that small percentage is still significant. After all, last year there was a decrease of -2.77% and the year before even -7.48%. Among the choristers' unions that do still see a decline in constituency, the decline has slowed down considerably.

Welcoming development
The umbrella organisation, which represents 106,932 amateur singers through its affiliated choral associations, calls it a gratifying development. Chairman Ruut te Velthuis: "The work of recent years to support the choral sector - not only from us, but from a lot of partners in the amateur arts - is starting to bear fruit. This is exactly what we were aiming for with our Recovery and Future Plan (2022). It is nice that more and more new singers are discovering the joy of singing together."

Regional choral associations
After the 'disaster years' 2020 and 2021, 2022 also began with a lockdown that prevented amateur choirs from singing together. 2023 became the year of recovery, leading to the numbers recorded as of 1 January 2024. Regional choral unions in particular are seeing more and more people wanting to sing again. As with the Union of Choirs in Drenthe (+10.3%) and the Union of Choirs in Friesland which takes the crown with 15.6% more singers.

"That is very nice yes, absolutely," says Margriet Petter, president of the Union of Vocal Choirs in Friesland. "The growth with us is mainly due to the arrival of nine new choirs in various genres. As a relatively new board, we have recently emphasised the 'mienskip', being together. During our new-style competitions, for example. There, the priority is no longer performance, but rather having a good time together. Perhaps that contributes to this nice increase."

Older choristers
But the increase is also striking among older choristers, whereas this is where the biggest hits were during the pandemic. The National Organisation of Elderly Choirs (LOVOK) notes 12% more choristers than a year ago.