Martinism was introduced in the Netherlands on September 26th, 1968, on request of Philippe Encausse, the President of the Federation of the Martinist Orders located in Paris.

A member of the Supreme Council ofthe French Martinist Order was appointed by Philippe Encausse as Sovereign National Representative for the Netherlands , with the mission to spread the Martinist ideas and initiations in that particular country.

The first Dutch Martinist Goup was called "Jacob Boehme, No 65, Collège d'Amsterdam". It received its Charter from the Supreme Council in Paris on November 9th, 1970. Philippe Encausse had proposed the foundation of an independant Martinist Order in the Netherlands on Februay 20th, 1970, but the Dutch members chose to remain attached to Paris untill such time they would have grown in numbers.

After working closely with the French Martinist Order, it became apparent that the Dutch members objected to the close relationship of the French Organization with the "Gnostic Apostolic Church" and of the Roman Catholic Church, most of them being of Protestant origin. They were strongly attracted by the Martinist teachings, but wanted to keep complete freedom of religion and worship. Philippe Encausse understood very well the religious traditions of the Netherlands and he suggested for a second time to create a separate branch of the Martinist tree, namely the "Ordre Martiniste des Pays-Bas".

The decision for independence came in September 1975, during the "Martinist Days", the annual gathering of the members of the Order in the Netherlands. A new Constitution was adopted and subsequently, the "Ordre Martiniste des Pays-Bas" was founded on September 12th of the same year, by the transmission of the powers of the National Representative of the French Martinist Order to the newly created Supreme Council of the Netherlands.

This body was formed by the Officers of "Jacob Boehme" which name was changed into "Suprême Conseil de l'Ordre Martiniste des Pays-Bas, No 1, collège d'Amsterdam". The former Group "Jacob Boehme", becoming "Jakob Boehme Nr. 2, college van Amsterdam" according to the first Charter issued by the new Supreme Council.

The Martinist Order of the Netherlands is not a territorial jurisdiction, but a specific orientation of the Martinist movement. It maintains close relationship with all the other Martinist organizations, and welcomes all the Martinists as visitors. It has grown into an international Order, having more than fourty Chapters in five countries and in three continents.

More information about the Martinism in general, and the Martinist Order of the Netherlands can be obtained by selecting one or more of the topics listed below:

Places where Martinist Groups are active

The Declaration of Principles of the Martinist Order of the Netherlands

Information on several Martinist Orders

Introduction to Martinism

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