Bible Belt (Netherlands)

The Bible Belt ( Dutch: Bijbelgordel ) in the Netherlands is a designation for certain areas in the Netherlands, where relatively many devout followers of Reformed churches live. These are also ( pejoratively ) referred to as belonging to the "Black Stockings Churches."

The Bible Belt runs from the Zealand islands (and the South Holland island of Goeree -Overflakkee ) over the polders of the provinces of South Holland, Utrecht, Gelderland and partly North Brabant ( Werkendam and Wijk en Aalbuurg ) to the Veluwe and then mainly in a north-westerly direction to Overijssel. Places like Staphorst, Genemuiden, Nieuw- Lekkerland, Elspeet, Opheusden, Kesteren, Barneveld, Ederveen, Ouddorp, Tholen, Arnemuiden, Meliskerke, Aagtekerke, Yerseke and Krabbendijke are surrounded this area. Places that are outside of the Bible Belt, where many live but strictly Reformed church-goers, are Urk, Rijssen and Scheveningen.

The social life of these people play for the most part from each other. It will be mainly in church, school, club and also at work. The share of the vote of the small Christian parties SGP and ChristianUnion is significantly greater than in the rest of the country in the Bible Belt.

The Bible Belt goes to supporters of a piety movement in the 17th century, the so-called Reformation further back.

The name is derived from the English phrase Bible Belt, which is referred to a large area in the southeastern United States, where the majority of the population is strictly Christian.

Reformed confession

Strictly Reformed Christians can be found in Zeeland, South Holland, the Veluwe, the Betuwe and in Overijssel. They are characterized by a strong sense of togetherness from within their church community. The church occupies a central place in everyday life. Visit the Sunday churchgoers two services. It may take several thousand believers come together. Also during the week there are numerous church activities on various topics.

Among the strictly Reformed church associations include:

• The Reformed churches
• The Gereformeerde Gemeenten in Nederland
• The Altreformierten municipalities in the Netherlands
• The conservative churches in the Protestant Church in the Netherlands
• The Restored Reformed Church
• The conservative congregations in the Christian Reformed Churches

Estimates are 300000-500000 Dutch member of these communities.

In addition to churches, schools have an important role identity within the communities. Hundreds of primary schools are run by strict Reformed Dutch. In addition to elementary schools, there are also reformed secondary schools. These schools are located in, among others, in Apeldoorn, Kampen, Amersfoort, Barneveld, Gouda, Gorinchem, Rotterdam and Goes. In addition, a private university, the Driestar College in Gouda, and a large vocational high school, the Hoorn Beeck College. There are also many Protestant Reformed Christian schools on basis. These primary and secondary schools are often visited by strictly Reformed students.

Politically the Strictly Reformed organized in the SGP. They also have their own national newspaper, the Reformatorisch Dagblad with 59,000 subscribers.

Meanwhile, several (popular ) scientific studies on this population have been published. A well-known example is a study of the liberal -minded priest twentischen Anne van der Avoid. Many Strictly Reformed hold important positions in society, administration and politics.

Vaccination and health insurance

The Bible Belt has in the country compared to the lowest percentage of children vaccinated. According to estimates by the RIVM about 30 % of the Streng- Reformed are not vaccinated.

In the Netherlands, there is no compulsory vaccination. While most parents let themselves and their children vaccinated, some followers strictly Reformed churches reject this as a violation of the divine providence. 1978 came in Veluwe (especially in the villages Elspeet, Nunspeet, Uddel and Staphorst ) to over 100 polio cases. All those affected had not been vaccinated for religious reasons: ("God brings about me, what he has decided for me ").

The local accumulation of anti-vaccination movement, there is the danger of the formation of outbreaks. During the last major polio outbreak in 1992, which took place in the Bible Belt especially, so all local residents were encouraged to get vaccinated (again). 1999 there was a measles epidemic among the local non-vaccinated population.

Some of the devout inhabitants of the Bible belt voluntarily waive health insurance and trust in the medical case instead on the solidarity of their community.