When Maart-Jan introduces himself to a visitor to Hart voor West, he says: “Just call me a novice!” And the pastor - whose father he could have been - he calls his elder brother. It marks the modesty of Maart-Jan Bellaar Spruijt. In conversation with a baptised 83-year-old.
Childhood around the world
Born in Leidschendam, he grew up in reasonable prosperity as the middle of five children. “We played in the Vliet, which was once dug by the Romans. Park Leeuwensteijn was an idyllic enclave, even during the war. As a young boy, I went with my mother to the food distribution. The Germans were endeared by that blonde little boy and gave some extra.”
The father of the family works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is posted to the Dutch embassy in Australia. March-Jan is nine years old at the time. Another seven years later, the family moves to Canada. Later, MaartJan realises that he has been uprooted at an early age and is not really at home anywhere.
Back to the Netherlands
After secondary school, Maart-Jan decides to return to Europe. After a year in Paris, he studies political science in Amsterdam and business sociology in Rotterdam.
Maart-Jan ends up at Philips in Eindhoven. It is a good time; there is a lot of money to do research and the company is growing against the odds. Privately, there are worries, but Maart-Jan nevertheless calls himself a Sunday's child. After working in Amsterdam and the Achterhoek region, Maart-Jan ends up in Rotterdam. He supports his wife Milo in setting up a language school, where mainly expats learn the Dutch language. The business runs well and Maart-Jan enjoys redecorating their old house on Mathenesserlaan as well. Together, they have a daughter.
A benevolent pagan
What role does faith play in this story? “I was not baptised, but I was taught cultural Christianity at home. Things like ‘he who does good, meets good’ were instilled in me at an early age. There was no reading from the Bible or praying.
Once in a while we went to church with family but I had no idea what was happening there. During a prayer, I saw my father with his eyes closed and shouted through the church: ‘Mother, father is asleep!’ The atmosphere in our family could be described as ‘enlightened CDA’. I had nothing against religion, but I also had nothing with it.
My wife Milo comes from a Catholic background and was religious. We got married in church. But I did not understand the essence; why should I surrender to God? You could have called me a ‘benevolent pagan’ at the time.”
Faith became a reality
Things changed when I came into contact with Heart for West. I took the Alpha course and had numerous conversations with Cees (van Breugel, ed.). This got me thinking. I discovered things I had never seen before. Take all those ‘me's’ in me, who want all kinds of things but what they want doesn't fit with Jesus‘ prayer: ’Thy will be done!' In Christianity you come across pure selflessness; that was new to me. Take Jesus: He is selflessness itself! You can't ignore that. Faith became a reality for me.
In Christianity, you come pure selflessness at
Taking off the harness
And because you can't believe on your own, I also wanted to join a community. And now, after baptism, I find that a switch has been made. I read books by Tim Keller and C.S. Lewis, and each time I experience that it is about me. I am shedding my armour. A peculiar vulnerability has come over me.
Who is Jesus? It remains a mystery to say anything about that. Deep down, I cannot fathom it. A world is opening up for me. But I believe in Him. Better still: I TRUST Him!”
This article previously appeared in the ‘Missionary Newsletter - December 2025 issue’ of Heart for West.
