60,000 Christians Gather in Secular Netherlands as Signs of Revival Stir Across Europe

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Roughly 60,000 Christians gathered in the Netherlands for a four-day Pentecost celebration, drawing attention to what many believers are calling a fresh move of God in one of Europe’s most secular nations.

The annual Opwekking Pentecost Conference was held at Walibi Holland, a large amusement park in Biddinghuizen, about an hour from Amsterdam. The event has become one of the largest Christian gatherings in the Netherlands, with tens of thousands camping on site, attending worship services, prayer meetings, Bible teaching, youth events, and seminars.

“Opwekking” means “revival,” a fitting name for a gathering that continues to draw massive crowds in a nation where religious affiliation has sharply declined over the last several generations.

European evangelist Jean-Luc Trachsel described the gathering as a powerful sign of spiritual hunger across the continent.

“What a powerful and historic moment. Truly, the Holy Spirit is moving in a glorious way all across Europe, and here in the Netherlands we can feel the wind of revival blowing stronger than ever,” Trachsel wrote.

The Opwekking Foundation, which grew out of the Dutch Pentecostal movement, says its mission over the past 60 years has been to follow “Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.” The conference has drawn especially strong participation from younger believers. In 2025, approximately half of the attendees were reportedly under the age of 30, a notable development as Gen Z in parts of Europe shows signs of renewed openness to Christianity.

The gathering comes as the Netherlands continues to wrestle with deep secularization. According to Statistics Netherlands, 58 percent of Dutch citizens identified with no religion in 2023, while 17 percent identified as Roman Catholic and 13 percent as Protestant. In 2000, by comparison, roughly 21 percent were Protestant, and 32 percent were Roman Catholic, meaning the country’s historic Christian affiliation has declined significantly over the past 25 years.

Yet amid that decline, evangelical and charismatic believers are pointing to gatherings like Opwekking as evidence that the Lord is not finished with Europe. While institutional Christianity has weakened, many young people appear to be seeking living faith, personal encounter, and authentic community.

The signs of spiritual awakening are not limited to the Netherlands. Trachsel also pointed to recent gatherings across France, where tens of thousands of believers reportedly assembled in more than 20 cities to pray, march, and proclaim the Gospel.

“Something is shifting. A new season is emerging for France as the Church comes together in unity,” Trachsel wrote. “Different denominations, ministries, and leaders are laying down their egos and logos to lift up one Name, the Name above every name: Jesus Christ.”

For many Christians watching Europe, the scenes are deeply encouraging. The continent that once sent missionaries around the world has increasingly been described as post-Christian. But from the Netherlands to France and beyond, believers say they are seeing fresh hunger for prayer, worship, evangelism, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

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