N A R

Updated 16th October 2008

The context of this contribution is rather important. The 1990s witnessed
attempts in parts of Europe, especially the UK, to criminalise travelling
lifestyles. The 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act was the tip of
that particular iceberg. However, synchronicity demands that what goes round
comes round again, and for something over two years a group of people in
Belgium and the Netherlands has been active in trying to establish a network
of stopping places and 'friends' of Travellers. The network is based on
self-help and is rather similar to the Willing Workers On Organic Farms
(WWOOFers) which has become a worldwide movement and is perhaps the most
sustainable form of eco-tourism!


NAR = Network Alternative Travellers (Reizigers)

I received two different copies of the newsletter of the NAR - 'T Narrenschip
- from different Belgium and Dutch friends. They are neat little A5 booklets
with a coloured cover and lots of individual articles and a number of black
and white photos and line illustrations.  The trouble for me was that all the
words are in Dutch, which sadly I cannot read. Undaunted, I asked Thea
Daleman, the Dutch mother of a friend, to try and translate some bits for me,
so I could construct this article. I received a number of e-mails from Thea
saying that she found it really interesting, and she eventually sent me some
translations from one of the NAR magazines. It was only when I checked these
out with another friend, Antwan, in Geldrop, Holland, that I realised that
we'd put two and two together and made five!

The articles in the magazine are a fascinating mix of new and historical
writings about Travellers, Gypsies, nomads, festival goers, organic farmers,
artists, protestors and permaculturists. In fact, the range is even broader.
However, Thea had thought that this meant that the NAR Network had been in
existence for nearly a hundred years - in fact it is very new, but sees its
radical roots and ancestry in a whole range of environmental, travelling and
protest cultures.

Antwan put us right, saying:
The NAR Network is a group of people who live on the road and a network of
people who live in communities, private places, eco farms, in park ups or in
peaceful squats. Members pay just £10 per year (£15 with 3x copies of 'T
Narrenschip') to belong and in return they receive a member's pass, maps and
an address/contact list of all the places they can park up, work with
farmers/artists, or just stay for a few days.

We have two different kind of places:
MP= means you can stay there but you must work there.
VP= you can there stay but don't have to work.

The main thing is that that you must respect the communities, nature,
neighbours and people who live there."

The NAR Network currently offers contacts in France, Belgium, Holland, Spain,
Portugal, Wales and Turkey. The network consists of alternative travellers in
both senses of the word, figuratively and literally. They say, "To travel and
be a real nomad, is to discover and experience." The network first came into
existence from a private initiative and has grown into a voluntary
organisation that seeks to provide people with a renewed vision of life. They
told me:
"The initiative is based on the following thoughts:
To prevent the extinction of creative spirit;
To see colour in the greyness;
To discover truth within the lie;
To wake from your dreams;
To discover that time is pressing;
To think, feel and want differently, and
To see nature as the universal truth and law to which we are all subject."

At a practical level it provides a network of friendly contacts and stopping
places for travellers of all sorts: some have camper vans, wagons with
horses, bicycles, tractors - a number even walk or hitchhike. The Narrenschip
shares stories from the road back to members - but at present it is only
available in Dutch. It also provides information about new intentional
communities, alternative energy, self-sufficiency, organic farming, eco
protests, arts and performance activities and upcoming events.

The NAR have purposefully taken a wide constituency for their focus and as
such it should enable people to help themselves and to, as the Narrenschip
claims: "...pioneer new ways of life, which they feel expands their horizons.
And share a common set of aims: to be pleasant, warm and helpful to each
other, and share their knowledge and experiences."

Antwan encouraged me to share information about the NAR: "The Network is
growing and it is getting a good group of nice people together.  Maybe you
can  help us to connect to more like minded people and communities to help
the NAR Network grow."

The tracks are different for everybody
The NAR see one of the their strongest roots in Gypsy history. They told me:
"During the 2nd world war about 23,000 Sinti and Roma Gypsies were
transported to Auschwitz. In recent times, the Roma and Gypsies organised an
emotional reunion at Auschwitz to remember their holocaust dead. Other
reizigers (travellers) owe the Gypsies a debt for their own history.

Today we are living in a time where every individual is expected to decide
for themselves what makes life worthwhile. It is a reason for some to release
themselves from society's constraints completely. For instance, some
reizigers make an effort to reduce the amount they consume to preserve the
earth. They advise people to live more sustainably:
* eat vegetarian food more often;
* put on an extra layer of clothes rather than turn up the heating;
* only use a washing machine when it is full;
* use your own shopping bag and refuse plastic carriers;
* repair your shoes, and give them a second life.

In the Narrenschip there have already been a number of accounts of NAR
members, such as:

- 'Lion Van'. He returned to Holland from a tour on foot to Spain and found
that he could hear his neighbours talking through the walls of his home! He
then decided to actually 'go for it' - he did what he had been contemplating
for years - he bought himself a caravan. It needed a lot doing to it, but he
got to know many fellow caravan inhabitants through this activity. Many of
his former friends also opted for caravans to live in after they had been
evicted from their squats.  After a year, his house on wheels was ready and
he travelled all over UK and France. Miraculously, he said that he no longer
needed medication for chronic bronchitis any more. Now he is enjoying his
nomadic existence to the full, meeting friendly people all over Denmark and
France.

- The NAR society also want to create an 'Inn', namely a farm with about 10
acres, so that all members can rest there. The leader of this potential
scheme is presently applying for financial aid.

-  Then there is the story of Chris. He recalls how every 100 kilometres, the
scene can change completely. His experiences commenced with a holiday for two
people living in an 8 square metre space. It made him much more aware of the
importance of being considerate. In particular, how people must become much
more aware of each other's needs, for instance, when one feels the cold,
whilst the other thinks it is too hot in the van. Chris and his partner
travel about in an old tractor pulling what they call their 'Gypsy-like
caravan'. They have met all sorts of people, and have enjoyed the experience.
they worked on a sheep farm with Liliane and Christian and helped with the
milking and giving the bottle to the newborn little lambs. And then, a month
later they found themselves in Auch, staying with a family who own a camping
field and a lot of animals. Suddenly, their main job was sawing wood for next
winter and putting up fencing for the black pigs.

They planted trees and shrubs and were invited to stay on, but as true
reizigers, they wanted to travel on. They continued to find all sorts of
jobs, met a variety of people, and even 'adopted' an American drummer,
despite there not being much room in their caravan! Their travels then took
them through France to the foot of the Pyrenees. They became street
performers in various market towns, and met up with 12,000 Gypsies in Les
Saintes Maries de la Mer. As well as being the shrine for Saint Sara, the
black patron saint of the Roma, it is something of a new tourist ghetto, with
pizza places, souvenir shops and a harbour.

- One group of NAR reizigers are experimenting with the building of a kart,
which they intend to use for a trek to Vea in Spain. The kart has been
designed to be multifunctional; it contains a stable for the goats, and an
area for the children. When the back is opened it, it gives entry to two 2
storeys, the top storey is an ideal sleeping area for the children, and on
the roof is room for the chickens. Built into the entire base of the vehicle
is room for the watertank. Above this, in the bottom storey of the kart are
the animals. Their body warmth rises and keeps the travellers warm during the
cold winter nights. These aspiring travellers are training themselves with
goat-herding, milking, making cheese, and  gathering wild vegetables in the
woods. Their aim is to be as independent as possible during their travels.
They have chosen Vea as their destination because there is a peace village
there, and many NAR people are trying settle in that area.

- Another reiziger moved to Antwerp and began to work there. He discovered
via his neighbour that there was a small illegally built house currently
deserted near the Antwerp docks. He moved there and now has chickens, goats,
sheep, donkeys and even a pony. He grows his own organic vegetables and hopes
to develop his own little orchard as well. Initially, the dock authorities
wanted him out, but recently he has persuaded them that his lifestyle is not
a threat, and they have allowed him to stay. He even has gas and electricity
now, and he welcomes
all NAR travellers en route to stay with him, as long as they help out in
return for their keep!

- Le Chevreuil commune in France is linked to the NAR. It has a 16 acre plot
of land and rents a house, grows vegetables and herbs, and their meadows are
grazed by the cows and sheep, with the remainder of the grass being turned
into hay. They grow wheat for bread, and the acorns and straw is used as
winter fuel. They say that their primary purpose is to better understand
their natural surroundings and also themselves. They are happy for anybody
interested in their way of life to visit or stay.

The NAR is run by volunteers, many of whom travel, so be a little patient if
you want to join or get involved. Their post address is:

Karl Wouteers
NAR Redactie
De Willaert 34
2460 Tielen
Belgium
Tel: 00/32 (0) 14552147

Ton Lavrijssen
NAR Redactie
oirschotsedijk 4
5089 NA Hagorst
Netherlands
Tel: 00/31 (0) 135042702

Hope it was of interest,


Alan (Dearling)
Enabler Publishing and Training Services
16, Bitton Avenue,
Teignmouth, Devon. TQ14 8HD
UK
Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 1626 773145
Web address: http://members.aol.com/adearling/enabler/

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