If you're interested or want more information, please contact InterAction at +44 (0)1865 292584, or send an email to info@ifesinteraction.org

What is The Netherlands like?

The Netherlands is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch, located in northwestern Europe. It borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east.

The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated and geographically low-lying countries in the world (its name literally means "Low-lands") and is famous for its dikes, windmills, wooden shoes, tulips, bicycles and liberal policies (towards drugs and prostitution among other things). It is mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders) except for some hills in the southeast. The climate is fairly temperate, with cool summers and mild winters. Temperatures are variable, on average between 0°C and 22 °C, and rain occurs throughout the year.

Although 59% of the Dutch population is religious, almost 80% of the people between 18- 24 years old never or seldom attend church meetings. Students need to meet enthusiastic, active Christians who share the gospel with them.

What will the team do?

This team will be the first team in the Netherlands and start in September 2006. This new IFES InterAction Team aims to support the (small) CU Ichthus Tilburg in whatever way it can and whatever is needed. Eventually they will support other small CU’s in the nearby southern cities as well. Furthermore the Team aims to reach out to international students in Tilburg, sharing the gospel through friendship evangelism and Bible studies, and making contacts by visiting student accommodation. They are expected to organize also central events to support and facilitate the one-to-one and small group work. The events and activities need to reflect a concern not just for the spiritual but also the physical and emotional lives of these students, who often feel isolated and lonely.

What special requirements are there for joining the Dutch InterAction Team?

Visa: You need a special visa, a 'machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf' (MVV), if you want to stay in the Netherlands for longer than three months. This with exception of people from Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Portugal, United States, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Canada, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Monaco, Austria, United Kingdom and Switzerland. They do not need a visa to stay in the Netherlands for longer than three months. The visa must be applied for before arriving in the Netherlands.

Language: InterAction workers should be willing to learn basic Dutch. However, most students are able to speak English and the international student ministry will be in English as well.

What is the present state of work?

In the Netherlands several different Christian Studentorganisations work:  Navigators, Agape and IFES, of which IFES is the biggest with about 40 CUs all over the country. IFES-Nederland consists of several different types of CUs (Christian Unions); Ichthus - a very interdemoninational and open CU; CSFR - a more reformed CU, with a focus on study; Alpha (not to be confused with the Alpha course) - a CU linked to colleges and universities for professional/ practical education; VGS - a CU, strongly connected to a specific protestant church; PoINT - a platform for evangelical theological students.

Most Christian Unions are made up largely of second generation Christians who may have few non-Christian friends and need encouragement in evangelism and sharing the gospel. Although it is changing, more and more Christian Unions are active in evangelism, using for example Alpha courses. At present one of the Dutch staff workers is parttime Student Alpha Coordinator with Alpha Nederland

In the Southern and more Catholic part of the Netherlands the CU’s are smaller (0 - +/- 50) and many of them have a hard time surviving.

What about accommodation, living costs, courses, jobs for IFES InterAction workers?

If InterAction workers don't already speak Dutch, it is expected that they will attend a language course (language courses can cost up to €820 per semester). 

Financial support is normally raised from churches, friends and family back home. InterAction workers will be helped to find accommodation with families, team mates or students in houses, flats or halls of residence. Average living and ministry costs are €9000 per year (including language courses), plus transportation to and from the Netherlands.

Ideally, we would like InterAction workers to be full time in the ministry. However, if they need to find a job for financial or visa reasons this can be discussed.