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Dutch Hosts Open Christmas Tables to Neighbors Who Would Otherwise Be Alone

Faith-driven hospitality offers a simple, repeatable way to counter holiday isolation.

Overview

  • In Ede, Petra Teunissen planned a three-course Christmas Day dinner for six through her church WhatsApp group and included Bible reading and prayer at the table.
  • At a farmhouse in Nieuwkoop’s De Meije, Martha Kastelein’s free Christmas lunch welcomed seventeen guests this year with the table set for twenty-six, featuring prayer, a Gospel reading and carol singing.
  • Outreach relied on low-cost local channels such as a Zegveld newspaper notice, a church bulletin, word-of-mouth referrals and even tips from a local pedicure.
  • Logistics were kept simple with advance menus, a Dec. 23 grocery delivery, borrowed crockery, designated helpers, name cards and dishes chosen to minimize time in the kitchen.
  • Related efforts continued on Dec. 26 in Baarle-Nassau, where a community Christmas meal hosted around sixty people in its fifth year, including transport for attendees who needed it.