Today’s first stop was Edam, Netherlands where we visited our second hidden Mennonite church, built in 1702. The hidden churches had a house in the front & a church in the back. This church has an organ that was added in the 19th century. There were two Mennonite churches in Edam: one conservative & one liberal.
Then we visited Zaanse Schans, a town of windmills. The windmills were built in the 1600’s. The dikes were built in the 1300’s. There were originally 200 windmills. There are 12 remaining & the town of Zaanse has 6 remaining.
Our next stops were the villages of Pingjum & Witmarsum. Menno Simmons was born in Witmarsum & he was first appointed as a Catholic Vicar in Pingjum. In Pingjum there was yet another hidden church.
Our last stop of the day was the village of Berlikum where our host families are welcoming us for the night. The families are very welcoming with great conversation & excellent local cuisine. Berlikum is a village of canals that are used by the locals for fishing, boating & swimming.
– Joyce Yoder
