Christadelphians in the Netherlands The Hague (Den Haag/ s-gravenhage)
A country of provinces Struggle against the sea - 50 % of land higher than 1 meter creation of polders (17% of land) afsluitdijk, Deltawerken Population: 17 million Densely populated: 412 per km 2 The randstad : major cities (Den Haag, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht) Language: a form of Low German
Christianity in The Netherlands
Traditionally separate schools radio stations (KRO, VARA, NCRV, AVRO) newspapers sports clubs etc.
The beginnings 1940s Advertising by ALS - some visits to individuals 1957 (Easter) Billing and public talks in The Hague (Richard Purkis, Ruth Woodgate, Norman Perryman, Peter Drew, Doreen Wilkins) 1957 (summer) Norman Perryman, Richard and Ruth Purkis return to stay Richard and Norman find teaching work at the international schools (English School, American School) Richard and Ruth Purkis
Early success Baptisms in The Hague Sister Moltmaker (Sister M) Willy Chichou (married Bro. John Bryan) Jan Bal (KLM employee) Joop Reijentjes (journalist) Scheveningen, Van Stolkweg 27F (top floor) - where Norman and Joop lived Norman and Joop Perryman (married 1958) on the beach at Scheveningen in 1959
A meeting place Diligentia - concert hall, meeting rooms on Lange Voorhout, a tree-lined avenue in the smartest part of The Hague (Royal Library, British Embassy)
Outside Diligentia, 1958 (Back) Richard Purkis, David & Florence Danks, Joop & Norman Perryman, Arthur Sheppard
Gerard and Marthe Krijnen (Rotterdam), baptised July 1959 Brother Krijnen, a widower since 1966, on the balcony of his room in an old people s home in Rotterdam (about 1982)
A decisive period: the early 1960s Baptisms two students at the TH Delft, Rudolf Rijkeboer, Paul Klaver (result of talks by A.D. Norris) the Haak family in Delft Jan and Annie Haak (7 + 7 children!) Jan s parents (Oma en Opa) two children, Ria and Eddy a neighbour, Piet Reijchaard (wheelchairbound) Opa en Oma Haak Rudolf (left) and Paul (at the back) with Philip Danks and Mark Hale Broeder Piet with Sister Lien
More decisive developments The change from English to Dutch (a result of the Haak family baptisms) Increasing involvement of Arthur and Ruth Hale Arthur and Ruth move to The Netherlands in 1962 - to a house in Voorburg, just outside the Hague First regular publications: Internal: Wachters op den Morgen ( They that watch for the morning (Ps 130:6) Preaching: Met de Bijbel in de Hand ( a sort of Third Programme Glad Tidings ) Arthur: a printer, self-educated scholar Ruth: degree in French Dedicated to work in Holland from about 1960 till their deaths (1998/2004) Resident from 1962
Outside the Perryman flat after the baptism of Marie Boot (1964): Opa Haak, Jan Haak, David Danks,
A regular pattern Weekly Sunday: morning and evening Bible Class one public talk elsewhere Occasional visits to interested contacts Annual Campaigns at Easter and in summer/autumn Gouda, Delft, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Haarlem, Bussum, Amersfoort, Apeldoorn, Hilversum, etc. Press advertising Billing: up to 30,000, delivered by hand
Help from UK The Dutch Team 4-5 brothers with some command of Dutch: Peter Drew, Tim Hemingray, Ivan Stockley, John Morris (after 1969) Gradually: a larger number of helpers for a week (living in huisjes - holiday chalets) Outside our hired flat in Utrecht - Easter 1964 Our first public talks in Dutch! Eating pancakes at a pannekoekhuis Left: Pam Lawrence (Bidgood), Rudolf, Lois de Jongh (Genders)
Changes of personnel 1966 Norman & Joop to Switzerland Jenny and Graham arrive (till 1971) 1971/2 Chris & Gill Tarry arrive - until c. 2010 Numerous other UK ex-pat residents have supported the ecclesias in The Netherlands (including David and Rosemary) Nootdorp A mainly Catholic village (4,000+) outside The Hague
A new ecclesia 1971-2 Monthly Bible Class in Nijmegen, with contacts in Arnhem 1972 Baptism of Hans Den Boer (Amersfoort) Arthur and Ruth Hale move to Amersfoort Beginning of Amersfoort/ Arnhem (Amersfoort/Ede) ecclesia 20+ baptisms in Amersfoort, Ede, Arnhem, etc. Amersfoort/ Ede ecclesia in about 1988
Preaching methods Literature Magazines: Met de Bijbel in de Hand Met Open Bijbel (since 2006) Postal courses Booklets Books Bookstall Day of Meeting/ Day of Study (Ontmoetingsdag/ Studiedag) Once a year in Amersfoort since 1985? Four talks + questions/ discussion (with lunch and tea) Nel Davids with the bookstall
Literature
Bible Exhibitions 1976 English Bible Exhibition (with Dutch replacement text and display of Dutch Bibles) - 1 week in The Hague (new central station) - 1 week Rotterdam Town Hall Dutch Bible Exhibition Designed primarily by Rudolf De Bijbel - Ons Betrouwbaar Kompas (our reliable compass) Outstanding feature: collection of Dutch Bibles Team manning the English Bible Exhibition Rudolf with Sister Ans Brand and the display of Dutch Bibles
Overview - after 60 years Bible brought to thousands all over The Netherlands: bills, magazines, seminars, etc. About 60-70 baptisms, not counting ex-pats and their (grand)children Extraordinary, exemplary dedication Warm fellowship and caring High level of Bible study Some wonderful, inspiring individuals Joop (and Norman) Perryman Ans Brand (Arnhem) Nel Davids (Ede)
And brothers too! Rudolf Rijkeboer Mark (son of Arthur and Ruth) and Sylvia Hale at their wedding (about 1973) Jan Davids (Ede)
Today Tiny ecclesia in The Hague (6+ members, led/ carried by Mark and Sylvia Hale loss of Chris and Gill Tarry (back to UK) death of Rudolf (December 2012) Eddy and Corry Haak (to Drenthe) Small ecclesia based on Ede Jan & Nel Davids Selma Davids Ton (Arnhem) Bert and Jansje Brons (son Joram) Hans Den Boer (Amersfoort) Henk Kroon (Amersfoort) Family group (Paul & Ria Klaver, Talitha and Wayne, Eddy and Corry Haak) in Drenthe (Rolde, near Assen) Members of Wijns family (from Australia) in Maastricht Hans Den Boer Henk Kroon
Study and Fellowship Weekend, October 2011