PoliticsEducation

Eindhoven youth center’s rental policy prompts questions

Youth center Pitstop in Eindhoven stated on its website that it rented space only for services and meetings reflecting the Christian faith and not for religious celebrations or meetings from other beliefs. The wording had been online since October 2025. Pitstop had previously faced scrutiny over efforts to convert young people, after which a school ended its partnership; municipal concerns about the organization had reportedly existed since 2020.

The municipality said it had contacted Pitstop after questions were raised and that the website had since been modified. It maintained that Pitstop focuses on all young people regardless of background, beliefs or orientation. Pitstop secretary Kees Slob said the wording was outdated and that the rental policy was less restrictive, but said the organization wanted to prevent activities directly contrary to its Christian identity, citing a ritual gathering of the Satan Church as an extreme example. There was no Satan church active in Eindhoven that could be verified, and Pitstop did not clarify what other activities the phrase covered. The center received €431,118 in municipal funding in 2025.