The Netherlands has a rich Christian and Reformed heritage, and has given the Christian world some of our most insightful theologians. While Christianity remains prominent in parts of the country, with some regionally strong denominations, the Netherlands—and Amsterdam in particular—is known today for its ‘progressive’ and liberal direction on social and moral issues.
In 2020, Adrian and Abigail Yeboah were sent by Grace Baptist Church Wood Green to serve in the Netherlands. They have been based in Rotterdam where they initially supported a local church before joining Grace Church Amsterdam in 2022. Grace Church is an English language international church on the south side of the city, and Adrian serves there as a full-time preaching elder.
While Grace Church Amsterdam has some Dutch members, there is great need for Dutch-speaking churches to be planted in the city and beyond. This church planting work is Adrian and Abigail’s particular mission aim, for which they are now partnering with GBM. God willing, they will move from Rotterdam to Amsterdam during 2024, then in time hand over the work at Grace Church to others and begin planting a Dutch-speaking Grace Baptist church in the city.
Meet Adrian and Abigail in our introductory video from December 2023:
How can you pray for the Netherlands?
- Pray for Dutch Christians to stand firmly for biblical truth in their increasingly secular society
- Pray for them to live a gracious witness before their family and friends, commending the gospel of grace
- Pray for the Lord to raise up more church planters, evangelists and faithful pastors
- Pray for more gospel-centred churches to be planted, particularly in and around the major cities
Opportunities to serve in the Netherlands
- Church planting
- Evangelism among Dutch and immigrant communities
GBM stories from the Netherlands
The Netherlands – key facts
- Population 17.7 million
- Ethnicity Dutch 75.4%, EU (excluding Dutch) 6.4%, Turkish 2.4%, Moroccan 2.4%, Surinamese 2.1%, Indonesian 2%, other 9.3% (2021 est.)
- Language Dutch (official); Frisian is an official language in Fryslan province; English is widely known
- Religion Roman Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.8% (includes Dutch Reformed, Protestant Church of The Netherlands, Calvinist), Muslim 5%, other 5.9% (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish), none 54.1% (2019 est.)
- Urbanization urban population is 93.2% of total population (2023), with Amsterdam (1.174 million) and Rotterdam (1.018 million) the major cities
(Data from the CIA World Factbook, May 2024)