INTRODUCTION: REFORMED PROTESTANTISM BETWEEN 1572 AND 1590

In the history of Reformed Protestantism 1572 was a turning-point, opening up new perspectives especially in Holland. In some towns small Calvinist minorities had remained which had been active in the decision of the towns to join William of Orange's armed resistance. These minorities were weak in numbers but strong in discipline and organization. None the less, for the most part the Reformed Protestant church had to be built up from scratch. Thus in the years following 1572, amidst the hazard of war, Reformed Protestants were preoccupied with constructing a proper church order along Calvinist lines as determined during the Emden synod. The Emden policy was confirmed by the 1574 provincial synod of Dordrecht. It reaffirmed allegiance to the 1561 Confession of Faith and to the Heidelberg Catechism and took steps to set up a proper church organization in Holland and Zeeland, dividing the provinces into fourteen classes. The classis, the assembly of representatives of the Reformed Protestant congregations within a certain area, was of crucial importance in building up the Reformed Protestant church. It controlled the observance of proper discipline, doctrine and charity in the congregations. It examined candidate ministers and was deeply involved in the appointment of new ministers.

In suspending the placards concerning the persecution of protestants, the 1576 Pacification of Ghent gave new impetus to the growth of the Reformed Protestant church in the Dutch Provinces.