Like all of Europe, the Netherlands, long a bastion of Protestant Christianity, has seen it's numbers decline and dwindle. One of the most striking images of that new reality is the fact that a large Catholic church in the village of Afferden has been sold to a Buddhist group who have transformed it into a monastery and community center.
The Netherlands was predominantly Christian until the late 20th century. Since then there has been a steady decline in both Catholic and Protestant church attendance. While the nation is historically Protestant, the decline in adherence there has been more marked, such that today Catholics, representing around 23.7 per cent of the population, outnumber Protestant sects, representing some 20.1 per cent in total, according to a 2015 government survey. Over half, 50.1 per cent, of the adult population is not religious. Islam comprises 4.9 per cent of the total population, Hinduism 0.6 per cent, Buddhism 0.4 per cent, and Judaism 0.1 per cent.
Read more and See photos at www.buddhistdoor.net.
The Netherlands was predominantly Christian until the late 20th century. Since then there has been a steady decline in both Catholic and Protestant church attendance. While the nation is historically Protestant, the decline in adherence there has been more marked, such that today Catholics, representing around 23.7 per cent of the population, outnumber Protestant sects, representing some 20.1 per cent in total, according to a 2015 government survey. Over half, 50.1 per cent, of the adult population is not religious. Islam comprises 4.9 per cent of the total population, Hinduism 0.6 per cent, Buddhism 0.4 per cent, and Judaism 0.1 per cent.
Read more and See photos at www.buddhistdoor.net.
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