The Catholic Church in the Netherlands recorded 630 adult conversions in 2024. A 40% increase from 455 the previous year.
The highest number of adult baptisms and receptions from other denominations in recent years.
Meanwhile, the overall Catholic population dropped from 5.1 million in 2000 to 3.4 million in 2024. Weekly Mass attendance sits at 2.7%.
Infant baptisms fell 5 to 7% year over year, continuing a two-decade trend. First Communions and confirmations followed the same pattern.
Church weddings went up by 5.5%.
Sociologist Joris Kregting called the adult conversion trend a striking exception within broader institutional decline. Similar patterns appeared in France, where adult conversions rose 45% in 2025, and in Belgium, where they nearly doubled over the past decade.
Catholics in the Netherlands number 3.4 million among 18 million residents.
Adult conversion programs continue to accept new participants. For the time being, both trends appear likely to continue.
