History

Friesland is a Mennonite colony in the department of San Pedro, in northern Paraguay. To understand its history and development, one must first have an understanding of the history of the Mennonites.

They have their origins in the time of the Reformation in the 16th century. At that time, a group of radical Anabaptists formed in Europe. These rejected infant baptism and practiced adult faith baptism. Because of their peaceful attitude to life, they refused military service and demanded separation between church and state. This led to persecution of the Anabaptists by the state, but also by the church. As a result, they were spread all over the European continent.

The Dutch Catholic ex-priest Menno Simons gathered and consolidated many of these scattered Anabaptists, who were soon called “Mennonites.”

Mennonites have always been known for their love for rural life. Following various migratory routes from the 16th century to the present, they passed through the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Bolivia, and Paraguay, among other places. Along the way, they repeatedly cultivated difficult land, sometimes uneconomic and uninhabited, and made it fertile to feed their families.

Friesland is a Mennonite colony in the department of San Pedro, in northern Paraguay. To understand its history and development, one must first have an understanding of the history of the Mennonites.

They have their origins in the time of the Reformation in the 16th century. At that time, a group of radical Anabaptists formed in Europe. These rejected infant baptism and practiced adult faith baptism. Because of their peaceful attitude to life, they refused military service and demanded separation between church and state. This led to persecution of the Anabaptists by the state, but also by the church. As a result, they were spread all over the European continent.

The Dutch Catholic ex-priest Menno Simons gathered and consolidated many of these scattered Anabaptists, who were soon called “Mennonites.”

Mennonites have always been known for their love for rural life. Following various migratory routes from the 16th century to the present, they passed through the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Bolivia, and Paraguay, among other places. Along the way, they repeatedly cultivated difficult land, sometimes uneconomic and uninhabited, and made it fertile to feed their families.

In 1929, a small group of Mennonites fled the Soviet Union. A part of this group founded the colony Fernheim in the central Chaco in 1930. Here they began to build their existence in the wilderness from nothing.

The early years in Fernheim were extremely difficult, as not only the climatic and economic conditions were difficult, but also the social ones. This led to about a third of Fernheim’s inhabitants leaving the newly established colony in the central Chaco in July 1937 and moving to eastern Paraguay in search of better opportunities.

In the same year, this group founded the colony of Friesland in the department of San Pedro, 45 km east of the Paraguay River. The name “Friesland” was derived from one of the places of origin of the Mennonites in the Netherlands and Germany.

Since the founding of the colony, one of the most important pillars on which the colony is built is faith. Other important pillars are work, family and education.

On an area of about 6911 ha, 135 families (about 750 people) settled. The economies and houses of the colony were laid out in villages.

Despite the advantages that the resettlement to Eastern Paraguay brought, the lack of a suitable market soon had its consequences in Friesland as well.

Between 1937 and 1945, cotton was planted. But the great success with this crop failed to materialise. In the years 1945 to 1955, the Frieslanders earned their living as employees, craftsmen and cattle breeders. They also offered their services with their carts.

The uncertainty and economic instability of those years took away the courage and hope of many colonists and caused major migration.

In the 60’s, with great effort and due to a stable economic development, land was added. The colonists became arable farmers again and significantly increased economic production. From 1956 to 1964, the farmers planted mainly corn and marketed it with the help of the cooperative. From 1965, the wheat and soybean era began and brought great progress to the colony before no-till was then introduced in 1989. It increased production and at the same time protected the environment.

 Currently there are about 260 households in Friesland with about 680 people.

In 1929, a small group of Mennonites fled the Soviet Union. A part of this group founded the colony Fernheim in the central Chaco in 1930. Here they began to build their existence in the wilderness from nothing.

The early years in Fernheim were extremely difficult, as not only the climatic and economic conditions were difficult, but also the social ones. This led to about a third of Fernheim’s inhabitants leaving the newly established colony in the central Chaco in July 1937 and moving to eastern Paraguay in search of better opportunities.

In the same year, this group founded the colony of Friesland in the department of San Pedro, 45 km east of the Paraguay River. The name “Friesland” was derived from one of the places of origin of the Mennonites in the Netherlands and Germany.

Since the founding of the colony, one of the most important pillars on which the colony is built is faith. Other important pillars are work, family and education.

On an area of about 6911 ha, 135 families (about 750 people) settled. The economies and houses of the colony were laid out in villages.

Despite the advantages that the resettlement to Eastern Paraguay brought, the lack of a suitable market soon had its consequences in Friesland as well.

Between 1937 and 1945, cotton was planted. But the great success with this crop failed to materialise. In the years 1945 to 1955, the Frieslanders earned their living as employees, craftsmen and cattle breeders. They also offered their services with their carts.

The uncertainty and economic instability of those years took away the courage and hope of many colonists and caused major migration.

In the 60’s, with great effort and due to a stable economic development, land was added. The colonists became arable farmers again and significantly increased economic production. From 1956 to 1964, the farmers planted mainly corn and marketed it with the help of the cooperative. From 1965, the wheat and soybean era began and brought great progress to the colony before no-till was then introduced in 1989. It increased production and at the same time protected the environment.

Currently there are about 260 households in Friesland with about 680 people.