Churches have become a ‘public utility’ for funerals and weddings

Just 15% of the Dutch regularly attend some form of church service, down from 51% in 1970, according to research from the government’s socio-cultural think-tank SCP.

In addition, the percentage of people with little or no confidence in the church authorities has risen from 45% to 58%, the SCP said.

In 1970, 60% of the Dutch population was a member of a church group, but this has now halved to around 30%. In particular, Catholics have abandoned the church in large numbers.

‘The church is to many Dutch people now seen as a sort of public utility,’ the report said. ‘It is there to be used if necessary, for a wedding or a funeral or national events.’

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