Netherlands: hundred-year-old Christian magazine liquidates itself
Photo RD
Western Europe
A Dutch Christian magazine has ceased to exist because of a lack of interest. The magazine was over a hundred years old. “This decision is unavoidable.”
An anniversary issue was published in June, but now everything is over. There are no more editors to be found, subscribers are dropping out, and everything is getting too expensive. After a hundred years, the Dutch magazine Protestants Nederland(Protestant Netherlands, ed.) ceased to exist.
The board writes that it is“aware of the impact this decision will have on the supporters of Protestant Nederland, especially those who have dedicated themselves to the association and the magazine for many years – and sometimes decades. On the other hand, the board sees this decision as unavoidable, given the shrinking membership base and available resources.”
The board does see a bright spot. “Fortunately, other associations, institutions and media want to propagate a mission similar to that of Protestant Nederland: to inform and confront Christians with current developments in church, politics, society and culture, to strengthen Christian and historical awareness. They deserve our support in doing so.”
Roman danger
The magazine was initially set up to counterbalance the “encroaching Roman Catholic danger.” According to 99-year-old T. Verboom, a former board member, much of Dutch business used to be Roman Catholic. “That was seen as a threat to the Protestant character of the Netherlands. Protestant Nederland saw Rome as the antichrist.” A pastor who then stated at a meeting that Rome is not the antichrist because Protestants share the Twelve Articles and the Nicene Creed with them came under criticism.
However, those times have changed. On a special webpage addressing this discussion, Protestants Nederland states that the foundation continues to draw attention to the richness of the Reformation, but that the Rome-Reformation relationship is given a less heavy emphasis than in earlier years. “Times have changed, and the fronts of the (spiritual) struggle have shifted,” it says.
But times have also changed for the magazine itself. The end had been in sight for a while, with the departure of two editorial board members earlier this year. Then the magazine stopped publishing, but now the foundation is disappearing completely.
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