The Protestant Church of the Netherlands (PKN) has admitted its role in the persecution of Jews before and during the Second World War - on the eve of the 82nd anniversary of Kristallnacht.
Speaking on Sunday, PKN chairman Rene de Reuver said the church’s role “laid the ground under which antisemitism and hatred could flourish”, long before Adolf Hitler had risen to power in Germany.
“The church recognizes faults and feels a present responsibility,” he stated, according to an AP report. “Antisemitism is a sin against God and against people. The Protestant Church is also part of this sinful history.”
Mr de Reuver promised that the PKN would fight antisemitism and “do everything possible to further develop Judeo-Christian relations into a deep friendship of two equal partners”.
The Netherlands was occupied by Germany in May 1940. Around 140,000 Jews, who comprised three-quarters of all Jews living in the country, were murdered.
