In 1958 a considerable group of Mennonites travelled down from Canada to Central America. They considered Canada to be too modern and sought after the simplicity of a more traditional society. Their search led them to Mexico and Paraguay. And to Belize, the setting of this newly published volume. This book is the first important study about the Mennonite community in Belize, consisting of approximately 10.000 people. Much like the Amish in the US, these Mennonites transport themselves in characteristic horse drawn buggies, they live in large families and try to keep their houses and households as sober as possible. And they are religious, of course. Although modernity is slowly moving ahead, even for them.

There is something special about these Mennonites for three reasons. In the first place they moved from a first-world country to a developing country; the reverse of what is common. Secondly, they cherish their ties with the homeland – The Netherlands – whil e the Anabaptists in the Netherlands find it difficult to be reminded of their relatives across the oceans: the clash between conservation and progression. In the third place, these Mennonites from the Americas are eager to travel across the Atlantic for their hadj to and through the Netherlands, with stops in places such as Amsterdam, Witmarsum and Harlingen.

The book offers a portrait of these Mennonites in seven main chapters, with a preface by Piet Visser, professor of history of the Anabaptists and Mennonites at the VU University Amsterdam. The volume is edited by Carel Roessingh, anthropologist, working at the department of Culture, Organization and Management at the VU Faculty of Social Sciences, and Tanja Plasil, anthropologist.

More information about the editors:
Dr. C. H. Roessingh