De Vierslag

Our training center: De Vierslag

Our headquarters is based in the village of Kruiningen, in the province of Zeeland, in the southwest of the Netherlands. The building, De Vierslag, was originally a retirement home called Avondlicht (evening light) built in 1934. Because new specifications were implemented for retirement homes, the building was closed in 1982 and placed for sale.

In 1983 three families purchased the building and it became 'De Vierslag' (a Dutch word referring to the 'four beats' used in the manual way wheat was separated from chaff). John and Donna Oostdijk, Albert and Lidi van Zeist and Rien and Willy Oostdijk formed a community to realise dreams that the individual partners had not been able to fully accomplish on their own. De Vierslag became a Christian community center to house young people in need as well as house, train and send out teams for cross-cultural youth work.

Since 1983 many changes have taken place: the Van Zeist family moved to another building in Kruiningen to expand and focus on their ministry to young people needing a warm nest (Foundation The Nest). This provided room in De Vierslag for the offices of Atlantic Bridge, founded by John Oostdijk 1988.

In 2007, we have again re-situated the offices and guest rooms so as to use the space more efficiently and make room for long- and short-term guests. In the summer of 2008 Rien and Willy Oostdijk will move to Middelburg and John and Donna will also move to a different apartment in the building. By September 2008, three-quarters of De Vierslag will be available to Atlantic Bridge to house and train young people in the mission of Bridgebuilding. If these walls could talk, just imagine the stories they could tell!
Renovation 2007
As of February 2007, a total overhaul of the Vierslag has begun, working from the inside out. As the mission of Atlantic Bridge is growing, so is the need for more space for housing, offices and training. We plan to renovate and refresh the entire building, increasing the use of the facilities to house staff, teams, interns and guests and provide offices and facilities for training.

There are many different projects to this renovation: everything from building a dormer, painting a bedroom, electrical wiring and mounting floorboards to plumbing, mounting sinks, laying tiles and re-organising the garden. In February of 2007, in March 2008, and again in February 2009 teams from the Prince Street United Brethren Church in Shippensburg, PA have come to do some major renovations.

As of September 2008 we started the VIERSLAG KLUSSEDAGEN, where folks in the immediate area are invited to come and help fix up the Vierslag, each doing a small job that is prepared ahead of time. Once a montyh on a Saturday we host a group of about 10 volunteers to help with the renovation. We start at 8.00 with French Toast for breakfast and a devotional and work till 12.30. Just 3 hours but a good time together. 

The next VIERSLAG KLUSSENDAGEN (FIXING DAYS) for 2009 are; Saturdays....January 10, February 21(together with the Shippensburg team), March 28, April 18, May 23 and June 20.