Originally published in Worthy News
Tens of thousands of evangelical Christians gathered in the Netherlands for one of Europe’s largest multi-day Christian events, with organisers and participants expressing hopes for spiritual revival in the nation and across Europe.
More than 60 000 people, many of them young believers, attended the 56th annual Pentecost Conference organised by Stichting Opwekking (Revival Foundation) at the Walibi event grounds in the Dutch town of Biddinghuizen.
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The event drew worshippers from across the Netherlands and beyond, many of them camping on-site throughout the four-day Pentecost gathering held from Friday through Monday
Thousands packed the central conference tent Sunday morning, while many others followed the gathering from nearby fields and large outdoor screens. Organisers estimated that about 20 000 people attended the main worship service alone.
Participants sang worship songs and celebrated Communion together in what organisers described as a visible expression of unity among Christians from different churches and denominations.
Communion and faith
Conference leaders spoke about forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus Christ during the Communion service.
Thousands of worshippers received a small cup and bread to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion and resurrection from the dead.
“Through the blood of Jesus we are forgiven and reconciled. The relationship with the Father has been restored,” leaders told worshippers.
“The cross is the place where the old self is crucified with Him,” speakers said, adding that believers receive “new life” through Christ’s death and resurrection.
A large empty cross placed at the center of the conference grounds reminded visitors of those Biblical themes.
Theme of hope
Although Christians usually celebrate Communion in their local churches, organisers stressed that the Pentecost Conference provides an opportunity for believers from different backgrounds to worship together.
The 2026 conference theme, “I Am,” referred to the Biblical story in which God reveals Himself to Moses through the burning bush.
Organisers said the theme symbolised God’s closeness, faithfulness, and strength, even during difficult times.
During Sunday morning’s main service, conference director Lourens du Plessis reflected on life’s “mountains and valleys” while preaching from Exodus 17 about Moses holding up his hands during the battle between Israel and the Amalekites at Rephidim.
“As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed,” Du Plessis told the crowd. “What happens above becomes visible below. Heavenly power translates into earthly victory.”
Spiritual struggles
Du Plessis said spiritual struggles remain part of life even for believers. “When we walk with God, we still experience battles in our lives,” he added.
Pointing worshippers toward Jesus Christ, Du Plessis explained that every Biblical mountain story ultimately points “to the mountain of God’s glory and to Christ Jesus.”
“Whoever believes in Him will live, even though he dies,” he declared.
Among the international speakers was Bobby Schuller, grandson of the late Robert H. Schuller, the American televangelist who founded the iconic Crystal Cathedral church and television outreach in California
Schuller has spoken openly about the struggles surrounding his disabled son, who nearly died, revealing an unusually vulnerable side of the well-known television preacher.
Personal testimonies
Yet Schuller told worshippers he had witnessed “the great miracles of God,” encouraging believers to maintain faith despite suffering and uncertainty.
His words resonated with participants. One mother, identified only as Hennie, spoke emotionally about losing her 18-year-old son Rafaël earlier this year after a battle with illness linked to a liver tumor.
“He always wanted to be where God was,” she recalled.
After his death on January 9, Hennie said she still believed God had healed him, though “not on this side of life, but on the other side.”
Describing his final moments, she said: “He opened his eyes toward heaven and stretched out his hand. We were praying together, and I truly believe he took the hand of Jesus.”
Nighttime worship
Others described emotional moments during prayer and healing services, including attendees who spoke publicly about restored faith and answered prayers.
Among them was Sanne, who said she became pregnant after years of struggling to have a child.
“Everyone stood up and began cheering,” Du Plessis recalled after Sanne and her husband appeared on stage. “I felt completely overwhelmed with emotion.”
Worship often continued late into the night, with groups of young people gathering outdoors to sing and pray together.
“People stood together late in the evening singing songs on the field,” Du Plessis said. “Some even started dancing. It created such a beautiful atmosphere.”
Migration and politics
Reflecting on the spiritual atmosphere of the conference, Du Plessis added: “There may not have been a real campfire because of safety reasons, but there was fire from God’s Spirit.”
Dutch politician Mirjam Bikker, leader of the Christian Union party, also attended the event and spoke about compassion in debates surrounding asylum seekers and migration.
She said she had spoken with asylum seekers too afraid to go outside after an asylum center was attacked with fireworks in the Dutch town of Loosdrecht.
“Every human being is created and loved by God,” Bikker said.
Current conference organisers agreed. The movement traces its roots to late Dutch evangelist Ben Hoekendijk, who helped establish Stichting Opwekking in 1960 together with Peter and Else Vlug and his wife Wiesje Hoekendijk.
Dutch Pentecostal movement
Hoekendijk became one of the best-known figures in the Dutch Pentecostal movement and launched the first Pentecost conferences in the early 1970s, when only a few hundred people attended.
The gatherings later evolved into major Christian events attracting worshippers from across Europe.
He also organised large youth rallies known as the “One-Way Days” and spoke at international evangelical events linked to evangelist Billy Graham.
Decades later, organisers implemented extensive traffic measures around Biddinghuizen after severe congestion during a previous large gathering near the venue.
Campers were assigned arrival time slots, and visitors were directed through several entry points to ease pressure on local roads.
Traffic and reflection
Despite logistical challenges and earlier criticism from activists who said the conference paid insufficient attention to the Palestinian perspective in the Middle East conflict, organisers said gratitude remained the dominant feeling after the four-day event.
Organisers noted that the annual Pentecost Conference has become one of the most visible expressions of evangelical Christianity in the Netherlands and increasingly draws visitors from across Europe seeking worship, fellowship, and spiritual renewal.
“People are tired, but thankful,” Du Plessis reflected. “Above all, we want to remember what the Lord has done here.”
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