Danish Seamen's Church

Protestant church in Rotterdam

About the church

Sømandskirken is a Danish church that holds services in Danish and provides baptisms, confirmations, funerals and blessings of couples.

The sailor pastor and church assistants visit ships under the Danish flag that call at the port of Rotterdam every day. Sømandskirken is also a meeting house for Danes in the Netherlands and everyone, regardless of religion or nationality.

history

The Danish Seamen's Church in Rotterdam was founded in 1954 with the appointment of the first pastor. In the early years, the Danish church lived with the Swedish church at Parklaan 5.

In 1962, Rotterdam overtook New York and became the largest port in the world. Following the 100-year anniversary in 1967 of the organization of Danish Sailors' Churches Abroad (Dansk Sømandskirke i Fremmede Havne), which had its 100-year anniversary in 1967, it was decided to build its own church in Rotterdam.

Store Bededag 1970, the inauguration of the new Seamen's Church took place in the presence of the Danish King Frederik the 9th and the Dutch Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard.

The church is increasingly used 40 years later.