The Plain Dutch
The Pa. Dutch folk-culture is divided into two distinct elements: the "Plain" Dutch, who are in the minority, are the Amish & Mennonites: the "Gay" Dutch are, for the most part, Lutheran & Reformed.
The "Plain" Dutch are biblicists: they strictly conform to the Bible & its instructions. Their approach to worship is simple & anti-sacramental. They observe only those Holy Days which are specifically sanctioned in the Bible. They avoid revelry, waste, & "worldly ways": their goal is to be "little & unknown, loved by God alone." With their simple, unadorned, "Plain" way of life, the "Plain" Dutch attempt to separate themselves from the rest of the world.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 40° 31.092′ N, 75° 46.989′ W. Marker is in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. It can be reached from Wentz Street. Marker is on the Kutztown Fairgrounds, home of the Kutztown Folk Festival. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 450 Wentz Street,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: New Year's Day Lore (here, next to this marker); The Candlemaker (here, next to this marker); The Bush Meeting (a few steps from this marker); Thanksgiving & Harvest Home (a few steps from this marker); Cider (a few steps from this marker); Dew of Heaven (a few steps from this marker); Pennsylvania Half-Timbering (a few steps from this marker); The Mennonites (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kutztown.
Regarding The Plain Dutch. Excerpt from "Today... and Yesterday" by The Morning Call
Also see . . .
1. Amish and the Plain People.
2. Historical Account of the Amish and the Mennonites (1938 book excerpt). (Submitted on July 12, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. The Pennsylvania German Society. (Submitted on July 12, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
4. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. (Submitted on July 12, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 376 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
