With the Netherlands government advising cancellation of all meetings of over 100 people, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) recommended the same to its churches, and offered a broadcast meditation by PKN General Secretary Rev. René de Reuver on 15 March, to replace church services that had been cancelled. The PKN also developed some church resources in Dutch, including guides on how to live stream your church service online, and even a sample letter that churches can customise to send to their church members regarding the coronavirus.
Municipalities have also responded with creative ways to adapt to the situation. Inspired by an Italian priest, pastors in Dieren, and in Zuidwolde are placing selfies of church members in the pews. That way, they won’t be preaching to empty chairs and benches during the live stream. Among other online initiatives, the church of Crosspoint in Nieuw-Vennep put a complete home liturgy on their website to provide people with material to celebrate in small settings. Tim van Iersel, a spiritual counselor specialising in dementia, created an online living room celebration to include people with dementia. Five-minute church services consisting of God’s Word, a prayer and a blessing will be delivered by deaf pastors for Interkerkelijk Dovenpastoraat, an inter-denominational deaf pastoral ministry.