With a population of 18.4 million people, Holland is considered one of the most secular countries in the world. Recent polls suggest that over 60% of the population have no religious affiliation.
Yet in the midst of this rampant secularism, over 60,000 Netherlanders recently gathered for a four day conference called Opwekking Pentecost Conference held at large amusement complex in Walibi, Holland.
It has been held for the past several years on Pentecost weekend. Many bring trailers and tents and stay onsite to attend the event that features worship, prayer and teaching sessions on the Holy Spirit.
It’s estimated that an additional 700,000 watched the conference online.
What is particularly unique about this event is that upwards of half of the attendees in 2025 were under the age of 30. It reveals that something is stirring spiritually among the group known as Gen Z.
One of those Dutch Gen Zers who is having a spiritual impact is Jurrien Timber, 24, who plays soccer for Arsenal in England’s Premier league. He is part of a group on the team collectively known as the Bible brothers.
He along with Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel, Gabriel Jesus, Piero Hincapié and Cristhian Mosquera have publicly spoken about their faith.
Jurrien, who plays defence, has been so outspoken that he has earned the nickname of Pastor Timber among Arsenal fans.
Before each game he typically posts a Bible verse and it is not just any verse.
“It is very different every game,” Jurrien said in an interview with the Premier League. “They just come to me as I am speaking to team mates or to people around me, like my family and friends. I just come up with one Bible verse that fits for that day or for the game”.
According to Wikipedia, Jurrien is “considered one of the best right-backs in the world, he is known for his athleticism, versatility, composure, and ball control.”
Though Jurrien was chosen to play for Holland’s national team in the 2026 Fifa World Cup, he was forced to withdraw due to injury.
The percentage of people who considered themselves religious in Holland has been declining every year for the past several decades.
But that trend reversed in 2024, when according to a report by The World, Holland saw a 2% increase in the percentage of people who considered themselves religious.
What reversed this downward trend has been a renewed interest in religion by Gen Z. This is not only showing up in Holland, but other countries as well, such as the UK and Finland.
“Which is surprising in a way… and now [we’re trying] to understand this trend,” said Ronelle Sonnenberg, an associate professor at Holland’s Protestant Theological University.
“Young people have a lot of stress, a lot of possibilities, but also a lot of uncertainties — and that is growing,” Sonnenberg added. “Does that make the tradition of faith — with a long history, with proven rituals — attractive to them?”