The three children of controversial Amersfoort preacher Gertjan Goldschmeding have been put under social worker supervision for a year after their father admitted hitting them as part of their upbringing.

Child protection officers went to court last November after the priest had said smacking is an important part of raising children. Goldschmeding believes in a literal translation of the Bible and uses the Old Testament words ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’ to justify smacking.
The court said the three children are at risk of developing severe behavioural problems because of the abuse, which included being hit with a wooden stick. Teachers and other parents have already complained that the two older boys, born in 2000 and 2003, are displaying signs of dominant and bullying behaviour at school.
Freedom of religion
Goldschmeding preaches for the AAC-Jouw church which operates in Amersfoort and Amsterdam. He and his wife told court officials the older boys are no longer hit because they are older and alternative sanctions have been found for the younger child, born in 2005.
Goldschmeding and his wife were arrested last March on child abuse charges and released after questioning. ‘They told me I can no longer teach using that passage from the Bible. But it is not a doctrine I made up,’ he told the Telegraaf at the time.
Taking legal action against him is against his right to freedom of religion, the preacher was reported as saying