佛教成为荷兰国内第三大宗教 发展极为迅速

据《nisnews》2009年5月27日报道，荷兰佛教发展迅速，已成为继基督教和伊斯兰教后的国内第三大宗教。

该报道称，荷兰现有佛教徒和对佛教极感兴趣者大约25000人，其中大部分为荷兰白人。而在1998年这个数字仅达到16000人，其中12000人是亚洲佛教徒移民，荷兰本土居民只有4000人。并且，荷兰把佛教看做是代表非暴力和和平主义的个人信仰。（编译：子规）

AMSTERDAM, 27/05/09 - Buddhism has expanded in the Netherlands into the third religion after Christianity and Islam. The growth is so strong that as well as Islamisation, it is possible to speak of Buddhisation of the Netherlands, argue researchers Marcel Poorthuis and Theo Salemink in De Volkskrant.

The Netherlands now has an estimated 250,000 Buddhists or people who feel strongly attracted by this religion, largely white Dutch. In 1998, there were only 16,000 including just 4,000 Dutch natives and 12,000 Buddhist immigrants from Asia.

Buddhism in the Netherlands is seen as an individualist faith that stands for non-violence and pacifism.