Heerlen, a town in the Dutch province of Limburg, center of the important coal-mining district, seat of the Mennonite congregation of southern Limburg. Since 1926, through the activity of A. E. Dinger and J. L. Swart-Posthumus Meijes, monthly services have been held in a hall at Treebeek near Heerlen, and a congregation was founded on 19 November 1934. In 1936 S. M. A. Daalder became the pastor of the young congregation, serving at the same time at Eindhoven. In 1939 the congregation obtained a fine meetinghouse, dedicated on 19 November 1939, adorned with a beautiful stained glass window by the artist C. Baljet.

The membership, numbering about 80 when the congregation was founded, had increased to 160 by 1954; the following pastors have served: S. M. A. Daalder 1936-42, Th. van Veen 1942-47, P. van der Meulen 1947-49, G. A. Maathuis 1949-    . Besides in Heerlen services are held at Geleen. Activities: West-Hill Sunday school for children at Heerlen, Geleen, and Treebeek; ladies' circles at Heerlen and Treebeek.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 686. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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