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== General Historical Background == | == General Historical Background == | ||
Christian missionaries began converting the inhabitants of the Netherlands from the late Classical Era and Early Middle Ages onwards. By the late Middle Ages the vast majority of the population was Catholic. | |||
The Reformation led to many Netherlanders leaving the Catholic church and joining Protestant churches. The rise of Protestantism was closely linked to the movement for independence from Spain. This led to the Dutch Revolt and the Eighty Years War (1568-1648). The Dutch Reformed church became the majority religion and had a privileged status in the Dutch Republic that existed until 1795. Catholics and other minority religions such as Lutherans, Mennonites and Remonstrants were tolerated but endured discrimination. | |||
Dutch society was quite religious until the 1960s and was also said to be "pillarised" with segregration between different religions. Catholics and Protestants, while living together, did not interact much with each other and had their own media, political parties, universities and unions. Since then, secularization had led to "depillarisation". Due to more intense secularization among moderate Protestants, since 1930 Catholics have once again been the largest religion in the Netherlands. | |||
== Roman Catholic == | |||
[[Image:Gesu Pietro chiave.jpg|thumb|left]] | [[Image:Gesu Pietro chiave.jpg|thumb|left]] | ||
<br> Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter by Pietro Perugino (1481-82) Fresco, 335 x 550 cm Cappella Sistina, Vatican. | <br> Christ Handing the Keys to St. Peter by Pietro Perugino (1481-82) Fresco, 335 x 550 cm Cappella Sistina, Vatican. | ||
The Roman Catholic faith was accepted in the Netherlands from the fifth century after Christ onward. It became the predominant faith until the 1500s, when the Reformation movements of Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Menno Simons began to take hold. | The Roman Catholic (''Rooms Katholiek'') faith was accepted in the Netherlands from the fifth century after Christ onward. It became the predominant faith until the 1500s, when the Reformation movements of Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Menno Simons began to take hold. | ||
There was much conflict between Catholics and Protestants. In the 1550s the Catholic Church began a counter reformation movement. The Protestants united and fought the Eighty Years’ War against the Spanish, who were Roman Catholics. The Dutch Reformed Church became the state church of the Dutch Republic. | There was much conflict between Catholics and Protestants. In the 1550s the Catholic Church began a counter reformation movement. The Protestants united and fought the Eighty Years’ War against the Spanish, who were Roman Catholics. The Dutch Reformed Church became the state church of the Dutch Republic. | ||
Roman Catholics have remained more predominant in the southern provinces of Limburg and Noord-Brabant. | Roman Catholics have remained more predominant in the southern provinces of Limburg and Noord-Brabant, as well as in isolated pockets such as Twents in Overijssel and around Haarlem. | ||
== Dutch Reformed == | == Dutch Reformed == | ||
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<br> Johan Calvin (July 10, 1509 – May 27, 1564) was a French Protestant theologian during the Protestant Reformation and was a central developer of the system of Christian theology called Calvinism or Reformed theology. | <br> Johan Calvin (July 10, 1509 – May 27, 1564) was a French Protestant theologian during the Protestant Reformation and was a central developer of the system of Christian theology called Calvinism or Reformed theology. | ||
Based on the doctrine of John Calvin, the Reformed Church was the state church from 1588 to 1795. In 1814 it became known as the | Based on the doctrine of John Calvin, the Dutch Reformed Church- or more literally the Lower German Reformed Church (''Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk'') - was the state church from 1588 to 1795. In 1814 it became known as the ''Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk''. In 1834, dissenters left the Dutch Reformed Church. These and other dissenters formed several churches generally reformed to as ''Gereformeerde'', whilst the Dutch Reformed church would be referred to as ''Hervormde''. | ||
Those of the Dutch Reformed religion have remained predominant in all provinces except for Limburg and Noord-Brabant. | Those of the Dutch Reformed religion have remained predominant in all provinces except for Limburg and Noord-Brabant. | ||
The "Bible Belt" is an area stretching from Zeeland to the city Kampen in Overijssel where conservative Protestant religions remain very strong. | |||
== Huguenots (French Protestants or Walloons) == | == Huguenots (French Protestants or Walloons) == | ||
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For more information on the Huguenots you can search the Internet. There are many web-sites to be found and you will see that they spread across the world in pursuit of freedom to worship as they wished. | For more information on the Huguenots you can search the Internet. There are many web-sites to be found and you will see that they spread across the world in pursuit of freedom to worship as they wished. | ||
== | == Mennonites/Anabaptists == | ||
[[Image:Menno Simons.jpg|thumb|left]] Menno Simons (1496–1561) was a Protestant Reformer from Friesland, the Netherlands | [[Image:Menno Simons.jpg|thumb|left]] Menno Simons (1496–1561) was a Protestant Reformer from Friesland, the Netherlands | ||
Anabaptist doctrines were first preached in Zurich, Switzerland. They spread to southern Germany and then to the Netherlands, where, by 1543, the movement had gained a large following. | Anabaptist doctrines were first preached in Zurich, Switzerland. They spread to southern Germany and then to the Netherlands, where, by 1543, the movement had gained a large following. In English, Dutch Anabaptists are called Mennonites after one of their most influential leaders, Menno Simons, while the Dutch use the term ''doopsgezinden''. Mennonites believed that only adults should be baptized, so baptism records of infants do not exist. They did keep birth records of those in their congregations. | ||
Originally, many Mennonites belonged to the social classes of small craftsmen, storekeepers, and farmers, but due to their industriousness and frugality they became people of means. Their religious doctrines did not allow them to hold government positions or bear arms. In time, however, the majority of the Mennonites became politically active and joined the Dutch Reformed Church. | Originally, many Mennonites belonged to the social classes of small craftsmen, storekeepers, and farmers, but due to their industriousness and frugality they became people of means. Their religious doctrines did not allow them to hold government positions or bear arms. In time, however, the majority of the Mennonites became politically active and joined the Dutch Reformed Church. | ||