THE NETHERLANDS

Iona Community Nederland is the new name of the Dutch Iona Group, which was founded in 1999. 

At the moment 4 Iona Community Members and over 40 Associate Members live in the Netherlands. However, far more people are involved in the Iona Community Nederland network. Around 70 people meet regularly in 6 sub-regions (Regiogroepen), listed below.

Iona Community Nederland is a platform for people who are interested in Iona and the Iona Community. We want to promote and enculturate the ideas and thoughts of the Iona Community into Dutch society by organising national events, groups in sub-regions, and making available books and other resources to the wider public.

HOW WE WORK IN THIS REGION

We have six sub-regions in the Netherlands.
The contact details for the regions are as follows:

Noord-Holland: Frans Breukelman, [email protected]

Mid-West (The Hague – Leiden- Gouda):  Anne van den Berg, [email protected]

Rotterdam: Desirée van der Hijden and Jan Maasen, [email protected] 

Utrechtse Heuvelrug:  Goof Lindijer, [email protected]

Veluwezoom (Arnhem-Zutphen): Roel Bosch and Jantine Groenewold, [email protected]

Zwolle: Arjen Meihuizen, [email protected] 

We have three working groups

Translation group

We have a very active translation group, which translates valuable songs, prayers and liturgical texts of the Wild Goose Resource Group into Dutch. You can find these translated texts on our website.

Climate group

We have a Signal Group which connects those who want to take action for the climate. Members have participated in the A12 march, climate demonstrations, the Schiphol prayer, protests at pension funds and PKN about their investments, and joined actions by Christian Climate Action and Extinction Rebellion. To join the group, email [email protected]

Vrede voor Palestina-groep (Peace for Palestine)

We have a Signal Group called Vrede voor Palestina. In this group, participants exchange ideas on how they can contribute to peace and justice for Palestine and Israel. To join the group, email [email protected]

Co-ordination Group

On a national level a Co-ordination Group meets twice a year to support the subregions and to plan and evaluate national events and actions. Participants include Members, representatives of the subregions, and representatives of the working groups. An Executive Committee of 4 people does the day-to-day management.

Activities on national level

Each year we organize a Spring Conference in Dopersduin in Schoorl for everyone who is interested in Iona and the Iona Community. Dates for the next conferences:

• 6, 7, 8 and 9 May 2027 (long weekend starting on Ascension Day)
• 12, 13 and 14 May 2028

In 2027 we will host the Iona Community Continental Meeting in Schoorl (26 – 29 August).

We publish our own digital newsletter 4 to 6 times a year, and have a Facebook page and a website: www.ionacommunity.nl

KEY PARTNERS AND NETWORKS IN THIS REGION

The Annual Spring Conferences are held in Dopersduin, the Mennonite Holiday and Conference Centre in Schoorl. E: www.dopersduin.nl

In the Netherlands you can buy many books of the Wild Goose Resource Group (in English) and books on Iona and the Iona Community in Dutch via the webshop of Docete. See www.docete – zoeken-Iona

Many of the Dutch books are written or translated by members of the Iona Community Netherlands.

CONTACT US

If you have any queries or would like to find out more about the Iona Community Nederland, please contact:

Secretary: Hanneke Ruitenbeek
Email: [email protected]

or

Regional Co-ordinator: Jan Maasen
Email: [email protected]

RESOURCES