Translate your church service into Dutch

International churches in the Netherlands and Belgium

Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Leiden, Brussels and Antwerp all have English-speaking churches: Anglican chaplaincies, Scots kirks, international Baptist and evangelical congregations. They serve diplomats, engineers, students and people who simply prefer worship in English. Over the years many gain Dutch-speaking members: a Dutch wife or husband, neighbours, colleagues, people who came for a carol service and stayed.

Most Dutch people speak excellent English, so the need is easy to underestimate. But following a sermon is not the same as following a meeting at work. Older Dutch members, children who are only just learning English at school, and visitors from a village church may all find it easier to hear the sermon in Dutch. Offering Dutch tells them they belong, not just that they are tolerated.

Partner churches in the UK

Some British churches have partner congregations in the Netherlands, from Reformed churches to free evangelical churches. When a group comes over for a weekend, switch on Dutch so that the whole group, including those less confident in English, can follow the service. When your church visits them, the Dutch church can offer English in return.

Dutch visitors to British churches

Dutch tourists, students and business travellers visit British and Irish churches throughout the year. A QR code at the entrance lets them follow a Sunday service in Dutch without anyone needing to arrange anything in advance. Flemish visitors from Belgium choose Dutch as well. For a cathedral or a church on a tourist route, it can make sense to keep Dutch switched on all summer: it only uses credits on the days someone actually listens.

How listeners use it

1. 01
   Scan the code

   On the screen, in the bulletin or on a card at the door. It opens in the browser.

2. 02
   Choose Nederlands

   No account and no download. iPhone users can also use the App Store app.

3. 03
   Listen or read

   The Dutch voice follows the preacher a few seconds behind, with captions on screen. Many Dutch listeners prefer to read the captions with the audio off and hear the preacher in the room.

Setting up

Note that ChurchTranslate starts with Dutch as the default speaker language, because it was built in the Netherlands. An English-speaking church sets the speaker language to English in its settings and adds Dutch to the languages visitors may choose. The technician can still switch to Dutch with one tap when a Dutch speaker gives the notices or a testimony. The multilingual church guide has more on running a service in two languages.

Cost

A 90-minute service into Dutch uses 90 credits, however many people listen. Combined with another language, such as Spanish or Ukrainian, the Duo plan (€100 per month, 960 credits) usually fits. See the pricing.