Person behind the research: lexicographer Hindrik Sijens

‘Besmet met het Friese virus’ noemt lexicograaf Hindrik Sijens (Twijzel, 1960) het zelf. Al veertig jaar draagt hij bij aan Friese woordenboeken van de Fryske Akademy. Over de sleutel tot je moerstaal en pitertuerlike staveringsregeltsjes.

So begins the interview with Hindrik Sijens, which appeared in the daily newspaper Friesch Dagblad last Saturday. It is the third article in a series of 12: the Fryske Akademy and the daily newspaper Friesch Dagblad are working together in 2025 to put the people behind science in the spotlight.

For what do scientists do all day, and, better still, why do they do what they do? Where does that passion for the Frisian language and culture actually come from? Every month in 2025, in the Wykein supplement of the Friesch Dagblad, you can read more about what drives our colleagues and why they put their working lives at the service of Frisistics.

The interview with Hindrik Sijens, ‘De rijkdom van de taal helpen beleven’ can be read online (after registration). The interview with Han Nijdam, ‘Han Nijdam slaat een brug tussen de Friese middeleeuwen en nu’, can be read online (after registration). The first edition was an interview with lexicographer Janneke Spoelstra, and can be read here (after registration). Marchje Andringa is the photographer.