Haitjema is a Dutch Mennonite family, living at Balk, Friesland, where Klaas Haitzes (Haitjema) and Tjeerd Haitjema were among the last lay preachers and elders, Klaas serving 1809-ca. 1840 and Tjeerd 1829-1849. The Balk congregation maintained the old Mennonite manner of living and dressing until a large proportion of its members left for America in 1854. Tjiets Haitjema (1853-1939) (Doopsgezinde Bijdragen, (1902: 26-28, where her picture is found), married to G. van der Sluys, wore her plain dress until 1872. Another member of this family is Th. L. Haitjema, now Reformed Professor of Theology at the University of Groningen.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, pp. 630-631. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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