Dutch Bible kiosk tells Gospel to beach tourists

It is only a tiny room of about ten square metres. Outside, in plastic bins, there are leaflets and magazines in Turkish, Polish, Spanish and Portuguese. The windows show edifying verses and Bible texts written: "Jesus, He came, He died, He overcame". And: "Grace, not cheap, but free".

Today, Pieter Voorhoeve is sitting inside. He will make some coffee; needs water for it. "I don't have any water here; I have living water, but I have to ask neighbours for ordinary water.

Books by Max Lucado, Wilhelm Busch and Henri Nouwen lie on shelves. Bibles are everywhere, in all kinds of translations and forty languages. There is also a "Jesus Bible" next to the City Bible ("Speak to the heart of Scheveningen") and the Sport Bible ("Go for Gold").

Ice cream parlour Firenze on the Boulevard is doing good business today. A blue tourist train rolls past on the cobbles. A hipster with a bun is passing by, reading a Bible text and the words: "Free for those interested". He hurries on.

Demolished by money and power

Voorhoeve -T-shirt, red shorts and sun-tanned skin- is 59 years old, a member of an evangelical church in the Dutch town of Wassenaar and was in daily life a successful entrepreneur in commercial real estate. Stirring with a wooden stick in a cardboard coffee cup, he says it was the world of money and power. "That life demolished me. I had completely lost my grip on everything. I was finished with it. I wanted to serve God, get moving, do something, pray, search, and investigate. God did not need me badly; He needed my heart."

Since 2015 Voorhoeve has been sitting on the Boulevard, one day a week, in this three-by-four-metre building. Why is he sitting here? "I am here for God and the people. I can testify of Him, of Who He is and of His love. I do not need to help God, although, a little bit."

Outside, a young couple (they appear to be from Arnhem) lingers at the bins with leaflets. Voorhoeve hurries out of the kiosk: "Do you know Jesus?" Hesitantly: "We are baptised."

God has a plan for you, for your lives, says Voorhoeve. "Do something. Think about it. Read the Bible, even if you do not understand a word of it." They nod, will really do it.

There are so many people around here who do not know God and have never heard of Him, says Voorhoeve. "But many read a Bible text as they pass by. I do not have to do anything for it. God can use that. He only needs one word. He is merciful. But someone must tell all these people. And that is what I do. We are still looking for volunteers!"

This article was translated by CNE.news and published by the Dutch daily Reformatorisch Dagblad