History
The Netherlands—commonly called Holland—was conquered by Rome
in the first century AD, but Germanic tribes drove them out in the 400s.
France gained control of The Netherlands in the 1300s, and Spain took over
200 years later. In the 1600s, Dutch explorers (people from The Netherlands
are called Dutch) sailed to Java and South Africa, claiming many as colonies.
Under Napoleon, The Netherlands was reclaimed for France, but after his
defeat it became a sovereign nation. Belgium was originally part of The
Netherlands, but seceded in 1830, leaving the country’s borders as
they are today. During World War II, the Nazis occupied The Netherlands.
After the war, the country rebuilt its industries and cities and is an economic
success story today. Two islands in the Atlantic are also part of the Netherlands:
Antilles and Aruba.
Church
History
Pentecost first came to The Netherlands in 1906 when Gerit Polman, an evangelical
pastor in the capital, Amsterdam, heard about outpourings of the Holy Spirit
that were occurring in neighboring countries. He and his congregation earnestly
prayed for Pentecost to come to The Netherlands, and it did. The gospel
message spread across The Netherlands and both a Bible school and large
church, called Immanuel Hall, were established by 1912. During the Nazi
occupation, believers suffered greatly. Assemblies of God congregations
in the U.S. helped as much as they could. After the war, shipments of food
and clothing were sent to the impoverished church in The Netherlands. In
1952, several Dutch Pentecostal congregations joined to form the Brotherhood
of Full Gospel Assemblies. Seven years later, the government recognized
this body as the Brotherhood of Pentecostal Assemblies.
The
Movement Today
In February 2002 The Brotherhood of Pentecostal Assemblies and the Full
Gospel Church merged to form the Assemblies of God of the Netherlands. Teen
Challenge coffeehouses, rehabilitation centers, training centers and a prison
ministry touch lives in The Netherlands. American Assemblies of God missionaries
to The Netherlands identify themselves as part of the church and work closely
with it to plant churches and ministries.
Additional
Facts About the Netherlands
Capital:
Amsterdam
Area:
16,033 square miles
Population:
16,150,000
Government: Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional
monarch
Language: Dutch
Agriculture:
Grains, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables,
fruits and flowers
Industry: Metals, machinery, chemicals, oil refining, diamond
cutting, microelectronics and tourism |
