ARE THE DUTCH RELIGIOUS?

Public expression of religion may not be outlawed, but many actively want to see it suppressed, especially with current concern for terrorism. And with floods of foreigners asking for asylum, there isn't much room for religion in public.

But I thought the Netherlands was a Reformed Country!
True, the Dutch were once strongly Reformed. In the North people were mostly protestant. These people were often characterized with a solid work ethic, diligent, church goers, and principled. In the South, people were mostly Roman Catholic. Life there is filled with (church) celebrations and the annual carnival, and they are known for a Bourgondian lifestyle, meeting together in one of the hundreds of neighborhood cafes, or eating out in delicate restaurants (fine dining, that is, no fast food please!).

Emptying Churches But Multiplying Religious Options
But the most common religious phenomenon today in the Netherlands are its emptying churches. Many churches have been converted into discos, city archives, exhibition centers, malls, office buildings, apartment complexes, or even burial places for cremation urns.

Pious devotion, however, remains popular. Many folks will light candles by their favorite statue of Mary, consult one of the dozens of occult media advertising in local papers, read horoscopes, or attend classes in laying tarot cards at local universities.

The Dutch Version of Freedom of Religion
Separation of church and state isn't an American invention. The Dutch have traditionally been on the tolerant side, as they once welcomed the Pilgrim Fathers before they sailed for the New World. In the 19th century, Dutch schooling laws entitled every major segment of the Dutch population to have schools of its own religious orientation. As a result, even today we still have Protestant and Catholic schools, but also newly founded Evangelical and Muslim schools. These are all government funded. This does not violate the Dutch idea of separation between church and state, since the state merely facilitates
adequate schooling for a diverse population.

The Gospel Among the Dutch
The older generations of Dutch are often anti-institutional -
as many are disappointed by their church experience. The younger generations are more open - exploring all kinds of spiritual and religious options. Although there are a significant number of evangelical churches (many started by missionaries), they struggle with finding relevant forms of evangelism. Traditional ways of evangelism are often no longer very effective, while evangelistic Bible studies are gaining in importance.

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