List of Dutch atheists

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This is an alphabetical list of Dutch people who have been identified as atheists. The people on this list have either declared themselves as or confirmed themselves to be atheist; and/or have been identified as atheists by a reliable source; and/or whose most recently recorded attitude toward the existence of God or gods is of disbelief.

While definitions of atheism vary, a typical atheist is someone who has made a conscious decision that they do not believe in the existence of any form of deity. ^[1] It is a widespread misconception, however, that all atheists deny the existence of a god or gods. While a minority of them certainly do, most atheists would strongly disagree with this definition: they don't entirely reject the concept "God", but would rather argue that the term God has no importance, and possibly no meaning to them. ^[2] The distinction is made between lack of belief in god(s) or weak atheism and denial of the existence of god(s) or strong atheism. Weak atheism should not be confused with agnosticism. An agnostic is in this case an individual who claims to have no opinion about God. ^[3]

The Netherlands is a secular Western European country that has witnessed a strong decline in its religious establishment. Membership and religious attendance have dropped dramatically since the late fifties. Worst hit are the mainstream Protestant churches, whose membership declined from 23 per cent in the late fifties to six per cent in 2007. According to government estimations this percentage could drop as low as two per cent by 2020. The Catholic church will likely face another decade of decline before levelling off around 2020. The Roman Catholic population dropped from 42 per cent in 1958 to 17 in 2007 and now facing a fall to as low as 10 per cent. In spite of these figures, the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) finds the number of self-described Christians has stopped declining since the nineties. As of 2005, a small majority of the Dutch population (52 per cent), still called itself Christian. These figures are disputed by another government research body, the Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP), which has maintained a 40 per cent figure since the early nineties. ^[4] While 48.4 ^[5] percent are irreligious, the actual percentage of atheists in the Netherlands may be 14, ^[6] 39, ^[7] 42 ^[8] or 44, making it the 14th-most atheistic country in the world. ^[7]

List

• Hulya Aydogan (1974–)Dutch-Turkish writer and journalist. Convinced atheist and advocate of religious criticism ^[9]
• Hassan Bahara (1978–) Moroccan-Dutch writer. ^[10]
• Floris van den Berg (1973–) philosopher, author. ^[11]
• Hafid Bouazza (1970–2021) Moroccan-Dutch writer. ^{[12] [13]}
• Paul Cliteur (1955–) jurist and philosopher, as well as a columnist, publisher and writer. He's currently professor of "encyclopædia of law" at the University of Leiden. ^[14]
• Anton Levien Constandse (1899–1985) scientist, writer, journalist, publisher, freethinker and anarchist. ^[15]
• Aaf Brandt Corstius (1975–) columnist, writer and translator. ^[16]
• Eduard Douwes Dekker (Multatuli) (1820–1887) very influential 19th-century writer and freemason. ^{[17] [18]}
• Arjan Ederveen (1956–) TV actor and comedian, best known for Theo en Thea and 30 minuten . ^[19]
• Elsbeth Etty (1951–) journalist, writer and professor of Dutch Language and Literature at the University of Amsterdam. ^[20]
• Javier Guzman (1977–) stand-up comedian. ^[21]
• Stine Jensen (1972–) Danish-Dutch journalist, writer and philosopher. She's a professor of literature studies at the VU University Amsterdam. ^{[22] [23]}
• Lousewies van der Laan (1966–) politician. ^[24]
• Rob Muntz (1963–) comedian, columnist and presenter. In 2005 he co-produced (together with Paul Jan van de Wint) the controversial television series called God doesn't exist, in which he interviews prominent Dutch atheists. ^[25]
• Ronald Plasterk (1957–) columnist, politician and biologist. He is the former minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations for the PvdA party. During his scientific career he was a professor of molecular biology at VU University Amsterdam and developmental biology at Utrecht University. ^[26]
• Dick Swaab physician and neurobiologist, known for his brain research. ^[27]
• Hans Teeuwen (1967–) comedian and singer. ^[28]
• Paul Jan van de Wint (1962–) presenter. ^[29]

See also

• List of atheists

Notes

1. "Atheism". BBC . Retrieved 2008-05-10.
2. "More on Definitions of Atheism". Infidels.org . Retrieved 2008-05-10.
3. Bendz, Fredrik (2002-09-14). "Definition of strong/weak atheism and agnosticism". University of Uppsala . Retrieved 2008-05-10.
4. Livestro, Joshua (2007-01-01). "Holland's Post-Secular Future Christianity is dead. Long live Christianity!". The Weekly Standard . Retrieved 2008-05-10.^{[ dead link ‍]}
5. Donk, W.B.H.J. van de; A.P. Jonkers; G.J. Kronjee; R.J.J.M. Plum (2006). Geloven in het publieke domein (PDF) (in Dutch). Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid (WRR). Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. ISBN   90-5356-936-7.
6. Buys, Govert. "Lezing Govert Buijs" (in Dutch). CV Koers. Retrieved 2008-05-10.^{[ dead link ‍]}
7. "Worldwide Atheism Trend and Pattern - A Summary". Evolution Space. 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2008-05-10.
8. "Vrijblijvendheid" (in Dutch). Hetvrijevolk. 2007-04-23.
9. Aydogan, Hulya (2024-08-23). "Opinie: Ooit was de Koran heilig voor mij, nu ben ik een voorstander van geloofskritiek". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-08-25.
10. Kranenberg, Annieke (2007-08-11). "'Als dit niet werkt, beledig ik Wilders wel'" (in Dutch). De Volkskrant . Retrieved 2008-05-09. Quote: (Translation) “In interviews he calls himself an atheist, but until now he has been left alone by beardmonkeys (referring to Muslims). Perhaps I have to make myself heard just a little bit better, I should be more explicit in my aversion to Islam and religion in general.” (Dutch) “In interviews noemt hij zichzelf atheïst, maar tot nog toe ‘ben ik ongemoeid gelaten door de baardapen. Misschien moet ik een hardere toon aanslaan en wat explicieter zijn in mijn afkeer van de islam en religies in het algemeen.’”
11. van den Berg, Floris (2017). Hoe komen we van religie af?: een ongemakkelijke liberale paradox (How Can We Get Rid of Religion?: An Inconvenient Liberal Paradox) (in Dutch). Antwerp: Uitgeverij Houtekiet. p. 96. ISBN   9789089245618 . Retrieved 22 September 2018.
12. Humanistische Omroep, Link to video interview with Hafid Bouazza Quote: (Translation) “Believers live behind a fence, and non-believers live in a pasture and they know there are believers out there behind the fence.” “It [religion] is a matter of conditioning, of brainwashing.” “I know that when I die, it's over with me.” (Dutch) “Gelovigen leven achter een hek, en ongelovigen in een weiland, waarin ze weten dat er gelovigen zijn die achter hekken wonen.” “Het [religie] is een kwestie van conditionering, van hersenspoeling” “Ik weet dat het moment dat ik ter aarde word besteld, dat het afgelopen is met mij.”
13. Verdonschot, Leon (2008-05-08). ""Ik kan niet leven zonder roes." Interview met Hafid Baouzza, gepubliceerd in Dif nr.1" (in Dutch). Leonverdonschot.nl. Archived from the original on 2018-06-30. Retrieved 2008-05-09. Quote: (Translation) “Look, I'm an atheist. I believe God does not exist, I do not believe in an afterlife. How terrible it may be: Hitler isn't in hell getting pinched in his ass with a trident. I'm fine with the fact there are people who do believe that and get comfort from it, like my mother. I just hope the influence of religion on policy makers will diminish, because my freedom is precious to me.” (Dutch) “Kijk, ik ben atheïst. Ik geloof niet dat God bestaat, ik geloof niet dat er een hiernamaals is. Hoe gruwelijk ook: Hitler wordt op dit moment niet in de hel met een drietand in zijn reet geprikt. Dat er mensen zijn dat dat wél geloven en daar troost uit putten, mensen als mijn moeder: prima. Als de invloed van religies op beleidsmakers maar steeds kleiner wordt, want mijn vrijheid is me dierbaar.”
14. "Toespraak van atheïst prof. P.B. Cliteur" (in Dutch). Medema.nl. 2005-03-23. Archived from the original on 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2008-05-10. Quote: (Translation) “I do not believe in the existence of God. But is everyone who does not believe in the existence of God an atheist? I don't think so. I think that many non-believers dislike being called "atheist". I do not object to being labelled "atheist". Au contraire, I think it would be a good thing if more people would become atheists.”(Dutch) “Ik geloof niet in het bestaan van God. Maar is iedereen die niet in het bestaan van God gelooft een atheïst? Ik denk het niet. Ik denk ook dat vele niet-gelovigen zichzelf niet graag als atheïst aangeduid zouden willen zien. Ikzelf heb geen bezwaar tegen het etiket ‘atheïst’. Integendeel, ik denk dat het goed zou zijn wanneer veel meer mensen atheïst zouden worden.”
15. Harmsen, Ger (2003-02-05). "Biografisch Woordenboek van het Socialisme en de Arbeidersbeweging in Nederland (BWSA): CONSTANDSE, Anton Levien" (in Dutch). International Institute of Social History. Retrieved 2008-05-09. Quote: (Translation) “An important part of his life was his continuous fight against the church and religion in general. His first and thickest work was Grondslagen van het atheïsme/Foundations of Atheism” (Rotterdam 1926; reprint 1976). With biting intellect and powerful arguments he propagated his atheistic conviction. In packed halls he debated the clergyman A.H. de Hertog. (Dutch) “Een belangrijke plaats nam in zijn leven de strijd tegen de kerk en de godsdienst in. Zijn eerste, maar ook zijn dikste boek was Grondslagen van het atheïsme (Rotterdam 1926; herdruk 1976). Met grote felheid en kracht van argumenten droeg hij zijn atheïstische overtuiging uit. In stampvolle zalen debatteerde hij met de predikant A.H. de Hartog. ”
16. Humanistische Omroep, Link to video interview with Elsbeth Etty Quote: (Translation) “What if God, or several gods, or whoever it may be, someone with a beard, turns out to exist and calls me to account for my life. I think I would have a problem, because right now I'm proclaiming I don't believe in Him/her/them.” “Still I'm thinking, I know a few religious people and yes I am making fun of them right now, if they got it right I'll be screwed forever. You can't know for certain, it's a risk you're taking.” (Dutch) “Stel dat God, of allerlei goden, of weet ik veel wie, iemand met een baard, na mijn dood toch blijkt te bestaan en ik me moet me bij hem of haar melden, dan heb ik denk ik een probleem want dan heb ik dus in dit filmpje zitten verkondigen dat ik niet in hem/haar/hun geloof” “Nog steeds denk ik wel eens, ik ken een aantal gelovige mensen, en ja ik zit nu wel zo om ze te lachen maar misschien hebben ze het gewoon bij het juiste eind en ben ik straks voor eeuwig de lul. Dat weet je niet, het is een risico.”
17. Douwes Dekker (Multatuli), Eduard (1950). "Het Gebed van den Onwetende". In Garmt Stuiveling [in Dutch] (ed.). Multatuli, Volledige Werken (in Dutch). Vol. 1. Amsterdam: G.A. van Oorschot. pp. 457–477. OCLC   222008370. (Translation) “The father keeps silent... Oh God, there is no God!” (Dutch) “De vader zwygt... O God, er is geen God!”
18. Gomperts, H.A. (2007). De schok der herkenning: Acht causerieën over de invloed van invloed in de literatuur (in Dutch). Digitale bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse letteren. p. 131. Quote: (Translation) “In his poem The prayer of the unknowing, which was considered a "gospel of the atheists" for a long time, he indeed complains: "What other claim to know about God... will not avail me... I can't hear him! I ask Him: "Why did you reveal yourself to others, and not to me?" ” (Dutch) “In zijn gedicht ‘Het gebed van den onwetende’, dat een tijdlang gold als het evangelie van de atheïsten, klaagt hij immers: ‘Wat anderen nu beweren van dien God te weten... Baat mij niet... Ik versta hem niet! Ik vraag waarom Hij zich aan andren openbaarde, en niet aan mij?’”
19. http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4324/Nieuws/article/detail/1156869/2009/09/05/Arjan-Ederveen.dhtml . Translated quote: "I don't believe in God, I believe in the moment, and in "done is done" and myself. And I believe dat I'm the center of the universe. The point of everything is in yourself. You can share that with others, but most of the time it's up to yourself. So you have to grab what you can get."
20. Humanistische Omroep, Link to video interview with Elsbeth Etty Quote: (Translation) “God doesn't exist, thank God.” “I think the world would be better off without God and religion. I just don't if the people could handle it.” (Dutch) “God bestaat godzijdank niet” “Ik denk dat de wereld veel beter zou functioneren dan die nu functioneert als er geen god en geen geloof zou zijn. Ik weet alleen niet of de mensen dat zullen aankunnen.”
21. Visser, Arjan (2006-02-18). "10 geboden: 'Ik wil minder bang zijn'" (in Dutch). Trouw . Retrieved 2008-05-20. I can imagine how consoling it must be to know there is a hereafter where everything is better, but I take comfort in the thought things end when you die. Suddenly life makes sensen, becomes less ungraspable: I am an animal –ninety per cent of my DNA can be found a fruit fly– that will one day, like any other animal, be dead and disappear. End of story. Bye bye.
22. Humanistische Omroep, Link to video interview with Stine Jansen Quote: (Translation) “We will do anything to escape from our inevitable deaths, we try to find ways to deal with it. We will do anything: bungee jumping, getting married, having children, anything we can think in order to transcend death. What I do myself? I read a lot of literature, I spend a lot of time at the cinema, but why? I honestly don't know, I don't think it is particularly meaningful, but it gives me at least the illusion life is somehow meaningful.” (Dutch) “We doen eigenlijk van alles om de dood te proberen te ontvluchten, om een manier te vinden om daar mee om te gaan. We doen van alles: bungeejumpen, we trouwen, we maken kinderen, alles om te proberen de dood te overstijgen. Wat doe ik zelf? Ik lees veel literatuur, ik ga eindeloos naar de film, waarom? Ik weet het niet, ik denk niet dat het verschrikkelijk veel zin heeft, maar het geeft me wel de illusie dat het leven zin heeft.”
23. Jensen, Stine. "Een kleine filosofie van de schaamte" (in Dutch). Stinejensen.nl. Archived from the original on 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2008-05-09. Quote: (Translation) “[..] I represent Atheism.” (Dutch) “[..] ik vertegenwoordig het Atheïsme.”
24. "Lousewies van der Laan: interview" (in Dutch). Atheisme.eu. 2006-12-11. Retrieved 2008-05-11. Quote: (Translation) “Believers see the antichrist in her. Is Lousewies van der Laan on atheistic crusade against the Christian Netherlands?” [..] [Q: Do you believe in God?] “I have accepted that I can never be completely sure. Doubtless faith seems so consoling to me, knowing there's an afterlife waiting for you if you keep some rules in mind. It would really calm things down. I am open to divine revelations, always think: Come on, I only need a small miracle and I'm yours. I don't know, I have a feeling there could be something.” (Dutch) “Gelovigen zien in haar de antichrist. Is Lousewies van der Laan bezig met een atheïstische kruistocht tegen christelijk Nederland?” [..] [V: Gelooft u in God?] “Ik heb aanvaard dat ik daar nooit echt uit zal komen. Het lijkt me heerlijk als je vol vertrouwen gelooft, en weet dat er een hiernamaals is waar je naar toe gaat als je je aan wat afspraken houdt. Dat geeft ongelofelijk veel rust. Ik sta heel erg open voor goddelijke ervaringen, denk altijd: kom maar op, ik heb maar een klein wondertje nodig en I'm yours. Ik weet het niet, ik heb wel het gevoel dat er iets is.”
25. "Kort geding om 'God bestaat niet'" (in Dutch). Katholiek Nederland. 2005-06-03. Archived from the original on 2007-06-25. Retrieved 2008-05-22.“Believers are all over the world allowed to poison the minds of their children with their mentality and conviction through raising and educating.”
26. Fogteloo, Margreet (2001-12-22). ""Er is geen verband tussen altruïsme en God" → Interview Ronald Plasterk" (in Dutch). Groene. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-22.“God in politics is fatal.” “When I meet an intelligent yet strongly religious person, I ask myself: don't you realise you've been conditioned to believe? If you were born in the next village, you would attend another church, defend a different truth.”
27. "God bestaat niet" (in Dutch). Positief Atheïsme. 2005-06-07. Archived from the original on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-05-22.“Blasphemy is also a pleasant way of living.”
28. Humanistische Omroep, Link to video interview with Hans Teeuwen Quote: (Translation) “I don't think God exists, but He has been made up. And because He has been made up, I believe I have the freedom to do whatever I want with the phenomenon "God". In other words, God is my slave, just like Muhammed is my slave.” (Dutch) “God ja, God eh, ik denk niet dat God bestaat, maar hij is wel bedacht. En omdat ie bedacht is denk ik dat het mij vrijstaat met het fenomeen “God” te doen zoals het mij goeddunkt. Met andere woorden, God is mijn slaaf, zoals Mohammed ook mijn slaaf is.”
29. "Kort geding om 'God bestaat niet'" (in Dutch). Katholiek Nederland. 2005-06-03. Archived from the original on 2007-06-25. Retrieved 2008-05-22.“We don't question people's beliefs. Everyone should be allowed to belief what they want, but when power is involved, things go bad. They want to force people to respect them, but they don't earn any respect. If they don't get it, they feel hurt and angry. I have the feeling we're living in an open mental institution.”

References

• Humanistische Omroep (2007), "Dossier (On)geloof", Human.nl (in Dutch), retrieved May 9, 2008