While religious venues all over the Netherlands are often being "recycled" into apartments and bars, some Dutch observers see outside pressure – namely the anti-religious strategy of Western elites as the key driver behind this process.

Dutch churches are in a deep crisis. According to public broadcaster RTL News, some of them are unable to afford maintenance costs. Others suffer from a lack of attention by parishioners. In addition, almost all religious venues in the Netherlands recently fell victim to COVID restrictions, resulting in staggeringly low attendance and smaller contributions.

As a result, many venues placed "For Sale" signs on their premises, with some rural Dutch churches going for as low as 35,000 euros.