SCOUTING · ONZE ROOTS
SCOUTING BADGES
FOR EVERY SECTION.
From beavers to rovers, from summer camp to anniversaries. Discover which badges suit
scouting traditions, how to build a uniform collection and what’s popular in the Netherlands
directly in stock or fully custom-made.
Funbadges was founded by a scout, with an idea that came to life at a scouting camp. We get the difference between a cub uniform and an explorer shirt. We know why a group name label matters. And we understand that a camp badge is more than a piece of fabric it's a memory you carry with you for life.
On this page you'll find everything you're looking for around scouting badges. Which insignia belong to which section, how to design a camp badge, what's popular for anniversaries, where a group name label sits on the ScoutFit, and what each age group needs. Plus everything about custom badges if your group wants something unique.
SECTION BY SECTION
From beavers to rovers every age group has its own insignia, traditions and favourite designs. Here you’ll find what’s popular per section, what fits and what to watch out for.
The youngest scouts, with their own world full of colour and adventure.
For beavers, everything revolves around recognisability and fun. Bright colours, simple shapes and small formats perfectly suited to the age. Activity insignia for the first time canoeing, camp badges for the very first overnight stay in a tent, and group badges that connect to the world of the Beaver Tribe.
Parents are often involved in the order, so we're happy to work with simple designs that grab attention right away and that later become a beautiful memory on a campfire blanket.
The most popular section for fun badges and the strongest swap culture.
Cubs live in the jungle, with Mowgli, Akela and Bagheera as role models. The badges reflect that: jungle themes, animals, and playful designs. This is also the age where collecting badges really takes off campfire blankets get covered in patches from every weekend and camp.
Per cub pack we often order 30-50 pieces per design. Within that there's plenty of room for variations: an extra colour for the leaders, small batches for a specific activity. Neckerchief badges and camp insignia are most popular here.
The adventurous core group where the real scouting traditions come into full swing.
For scouts it gets serious and exciting. Hikes, expeditions, weekend camps and bigger summer camps. The badges also become more serious in design: adventurous artwork, expedition insignia, camp memories and group identity on the shirt.
This is also the age where the swap culture really explodes. At international events or regional gatherings, patches are exchanged en masse. We recommend always ordering double half for the group, half for swapping. Velcro options are extra popular here.
Bolder appearance, larger formats, own identity.
Explorers organise their own activities, go on bigger expeditions and show more ownership of their group. You see that reflected in the badges: less childish designs, more typography, larger formats that also work well on backpacks or jackets.
With explorers we often see crossover with our other audience: explorers outside scouting. Outdoor themes, expedition insignia and HIT badges (Hike-In-Twente) are the most popular categories here.
Adult scouting with creative freedom and personal projects.
Rovers are self-organising and have their own projects they work on for months or sometimes years. That translates to a completely different approach to badges: more custom work, more often enamel pins instead of embroidered badges, and designs that fit the adult scouting culture.
With this section we also see a lot of creative freedom in the requests. Personal project insignia, anniversary badges for closing activities, or complete patch collections for multi-year projects. Custom enamel pins are a growing trend sleeker, more durable, and perfect for collectors.
MOST SEARCHED SCOUTING TERM
Custom camp badges
A camp badge is more than a piece of fabric it’s a memory that lasts for years. Here you’ll find everything about designing your own camp badge, what you need and when to order for summer camp.
How do you design a great camp badge?
At Funbadges we've helped design hundreds of camp badges over the years from summer camps in the Ardennes to themed weekends on the heath. We know what works and what doesn't.
- Keep designs simple: maximum 4-5 colours works best
- Avoid tiny text under 5 mm becomes unreadable
- Add the year for later recognition ("Summer Camp 2026")
- Choose between embroidered (classic) or woven (fine details)
- Order 2 months before camp for guaranteed delivery
Examples by year & theme
Every year we see patterns return. Pirate themes, knights, space adventures, survival camps every theme has its own visual DNA. We've built an extensive inspiration library you can draw from.
- Theme library with 100+ examples
- Yearly overview of popular designs
- Colour combinations per season
- Bulk pricing for 25+ pieces
FOR THE SLEEVE
Name labels for scouting
Group name labels, section name labels and camp name labels indispensable on every ScoutFit. We make them in any colour, with your own text and optionally the Scouting Netherlands logo.
Three types of name labels
According to the Scouting Netherlands rules of conduct, the right sleeve of your ScoutFit is the place for name labels. Which ones do you need?
- Group name label at the bottom, with your scouting group's name
- Section name label above it, for your section (e.g. "Cubs")
- Camp name labelas a memento of a specific camp
We supply name labels in all 15possible background colours and 17 text colours (gold or silver). From 25 pieces per design.
📍 Where does each insigne sit on your ScoutFit?
According to the official Scouting Netherlands rules of conduct, each insigne has its own place on the shirt. Remember these positions:
Left chest
Installation badge
Over the heart, the Scouting Netherlands installation badge
Above left chest
Participant badge
From major events such as the Jamboree or Nawaka
Above right chest
Qualification badge
For leaders, or the Dutch flag
Right sleeve
Name labels
Group, section, region, patrol or team mark
Left sleeve
Earned insignia
Skill insignia, camp badges, helper badge
No fixed place
Fun badges
Often kept on a campfire blanket agreement per group
CELEBRATING MILESTONES
Anniversary insignia 5, 10, 25, 50 years
A scouting group that has stood the test of time is something to be proud of. Especially when that milestone is 25 or 50 years. We design anniversary insignia that tell your group’s story.
How do you weave in your group story?
A great anniversary insigne tells something about how your group started. The founding, the logo, a historical moment. We've helped hundreds of groups capture that story in a badge.
- Design tips for anniversary insignia (5, 10, 25, 50 years)
- Historical inspiration from earlier designs
- Diagram: how to combine a logo + year
- Concrete examples from 200+ groups we helped
- Lead time: order 3 months before the anniversary date
MAJOR EVENTS
HIT, Jamboree, Nawaka & JOTA-JOTI badges
The big scouting events deserve their own badges. We make patches for both participation and organisation of these traditions.
Timeline: when to order?
De grote evenementen hebben elk hun eigen ritme. Hier de gangbare planning:
- HIT - Easter · order in February
- Nawaka - Summer · order in March
- World Jamboree - every 4 years · order 6 months ahead
- JOTA-JOTI - October · order in August
From 25 pieces. With more than 100 pieces the price drops significantly handy for regions ordering for multiple groups at once.
SCOUTING TRADITION
The swap culture: trading badges at camps
At international events and big camps, “swapping” is an age-old scouting tradition. You exchange patches with scouts from other groups, regions or countries.
Always order extra to swap
A common rule: order double what you strictly need. Half you wear yourself, the other half you swap during camp. It's often a memorable moment of a scouting year.
- Velcro options are popular for swap badges
- International shipping during Jamboree years
- Special "swap-only" designs without group name
A WOGGLE GOES WITH A NECKERCHIEF
How a Scouting neckerchief works + our woggles
The Scouting neckerchief is no accessory it’s a symbol of group membership. Every neckerchief comes with a woggle, and we have something special with that.
The Scouting neckerchief explained
Every scouting group has its own neckerchief colours often named after the founding date, a local tradition or the group's identity. The neckerchief is worn around the neck, held in place by a woggle.
Funbadges makes custom woggles with group names, camp names or special moments engraved on them. A popular choice as a farewell gift for leaders or as a camp memento.
- Leather or metal woggles
- Available from 1 piece
"Funbadges started on a sailing boat during the Scouting HIT in 2018. Three scouts, one joke, one badge and an idea that changed everything."
- Damian Verwater, Chief Fun Officer
DIRECTLY FROM STOCK
Popular scouting badges in our shop
No time for custom? Our webshop holds hundreds of scouting-relevant designs ready to ship from classic camp badges to funny fun badges.
![Pannenkoek met trots! [NL only]](https://funbadges.net/media/funbadges_funlinten_funnaambandjes_pannenkoek_met_trots_2-min-300x300.jpg)
Ready for your next camp?
Whether you’re designing a group badge, need name labels for the entire cub pack or just want to browse we’re here for you.