Free-minded Democratic League
Encyclopedia
The Free-thinking Democratic League (in Dutch: Vrijzinnig Democratische Bond, VDB) was a Dutch
progressive
liberal
political party
. The VDB played a relatively large role in Dutch politics, supplying one prime minister. The League is a predecessor of two of the major Dutch political parties, the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
(VVD) and the social-democratic Dutch Labour Party (PvdA). The social-liberal Democraten 66 claims that it and the VDB are ideologically connected.
, was founded in 1892 as an Amsterdam secession of the Liberal Union
; they left the Union over the issue of universal suffrage
. The second group was the Free-thinking Democratic political club (Dutch: Vrijzinnig Democratische Kamerclub, VD-kamerclub). This was a club of Liberal Union MPs (in 1901 it had about twenty-five members, out of thirty-five Liberal Union MPs and one hundred MPs in total). The second group left the Union over the same matter. In 1901 the board of the Liberal Union, supported by the VD-kamerclub, proposed that all its candidates would stand on a platform of universal suffrage. The party congress rejected this proposal. In reaction to this the party's board, some of the members of the VD-kamerclub, and some of the party caucuses left the party.
they won nine seats. The party always remained rather small, but because of their strategic position and quality of their MPs the party was very influential.
Although the VDB had split from the Liberal Union and the other liberal split, the League of Free Liberals, was against universal suffrage, they still needed each other to form a liberal alternative to the Christian-democratic coalition. In many districts there was only one liberal candidate supported by all three liberal parties.
In 1905 the VDB won two seats. From 1905 to 1908 the Liberal Union and the VDB formed a liberal minority cabinet led by De Meester. The cabinet was supported by socialist Social Democratic Workers' Party
(SDAP). In the 1909
elections the Christian-democratic coalitie
regained its majority. The VDB lost two seats, making its total nine. In the elections of 1913
the Christian democrats lost their majority. The VDB lost four seats, because it was no the only liberal party in favour of universal suffrage; the Liberal Union and the League of Free Liberals had also included in their programmes. Furthermore the socialist SDAP performed exceptionally well in these elections. The leader of the VDB, dr Dirk Bos, tried to form a cabinet with the liberals, free liberals, socialists and free-thinking democrats. The socialists refused to cooperate, because one of their major issues (unilateral disarmament of the Netherlands) could not be realized. A liberal extra-parliamentary cabinet
was formed, led by Pieter Cort van der Linden
. It implemented universal suffrage
and proportional representation
.
During this cabinet a conflict between the VDB parliamentary party and minister Treub led to his resignation. Treub left the party and founded the Economic League
, which would merge with the Liberal Union to form the Liberal State Party
.
lost nearly half its seats. The VDB remains relatively stable with five seats, but they were nonetheless forced to a position in opposition to a Christian-democratic cabinet. In 1919, however, VDB leader Henri Marchant initiated the law for female suffrage. In the 1922 elections the party retained its five seats.
In 1925 the party was instrumental in the fall of the cabinet led by Hendrikus Colijn
: each year the orthodox Protestant Political Reformed Party (SGP) proposed that the Dutch representation at the Vatican
be removed. The Protestant SGP was fervently anti-Catholic. This proposal was always supported by the Protestant Christian Historical Union
(CHU), which was part of the Catholic-Protestant cabinet, but nonetheless had an anti-Catholic history. For the Catholic
leader Nolens, this Papal representation was of utmost importance. In 1925 the VDB had convinced the other opposition parties that this was their chance to let the government fall and create a progressive cabinet. The entire opposition voted with the SGP and CHU, and the cabinet fell. In the following 1925
elections the party gained two seats. The party leader, Marchant, attempted to form a progressive government with the Roman-Catholic State Party
(RKSP), the SDAP and the VDB. He failed, however, and a new Christian-democratic cabinet was formed.
In the 1929
elections the VDB retained its seven seats. In 1933
the party lost one seat, but it was nonetheless asked to cooperate in the centre-right government led by Colijn
, which consisted of the Catholic RKSP, the Protestant CHU and ARP, and the liberal VDB and Liberal State Party. The VDB cooperated in the budget cuts and the strengthening of the Dutch armed forces. The previously good relations with the SDAP came under considerable strain from this. In 1933 the party's leader, Marchant, who also served as minister of Education, stepped down because he had turned Catholic. Pieter Oud
took his place as political leader of the VDB, until he became major of Rotterdam in 1938. In 1937
they managed to retain their seven seats. In 1941 the party was forbidden by the German occupying force. The VDB played a minor role in the 1940-1945 cabinets in exile.
became the first Prime minister
after the Second World War. He led a cabinet composed out of progressives of all parties. In 1946 the VDB merged with the social-democratic SDAP and the progressive Christian Democratic Union
(CDU) to form the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA). However, this party soon strengthened its ties to socialist organizations. In 1948 a group dissatisfied with the failed doorbraak and the socialist course of the PvdA left the party. These were all former VDB members, led by former VDB leader Pieter Oud
. Together with the conservative-liberal Freedom Party
(PvdV), they founded the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
. The influence of the VDB on the PvdA soon weakened as the party became an ordinary social-democratic party.
, social
or progressive
liberal
party, committed to universal suffrage
and the construction of a welfare state
. It favoured the democratization of the Dutch political system. Female suffrage was one of its most important issues.
It favoured government influence in the national economy by nationalizing crucial industries. It also believed that government should play an important part in ensuring the welfare of the population; hence, it favoured the implementation of state pensions for the elderly.
Before the First World War it favoured an army formed by national conscription. After the war and until the 1930s, it favoured unilateral disarmement. This position was abandoned with the rise of international tensions after 1933.
protestants from higher classe
s: the party was supported by teachers, civil servants, intellectuals and educated teachers. Regionally the VDB received most of its support form the large cities Amsterdam
and Rotterdam
, but also from provincial centres in Groningen
, Drenthe
, North
and South Holland
.
(Algemene Verenigde Radio Omroep, General United Radio Broadcasting Organisation), the general union ANWV (Algemene Nederlandse Werkelieden Vereniging, the General Dutch Workers' Association); furthermore, the neutral employers' organisation VNO
and the financial paper Het Handelsblad
had good relations with the League. Together with the other liberal party, the Liberal State Party, these organisations formed the weak general pillar.
the alliance with the liberal Liberal Union
and League of Free Liberals
. These parties had good relations. The VDB served as bridge between the liberals and the socialist Social Democratic Workers' Party
. The SDAP supported two liberal minority cabinets, but the SDAP was unwilling to join a cabinet with these bourgeoise parties in 1913. After 1918, when the liberals lost more than half of their seats, the relations with Concentration dissolved and the two other concentration parties merged to form the Liberal State Party
. The VDB continued to serve as the bridge between liberals and socialists. This strategy resulted in the fall of the cabinet Ruys van Beerenbrouck in 1925. The VDB was unable to form a government of liberals, socialists and Catholics. In 1933 the relations between the SDAP and the VDB worsened as the VDB joined the Cabinet Colijn, which had a very conservative economic policy. Their cooperation in the Second World War improved the relations between SDAP and VDB considerably. This led to the Doorbraak and the formation of the Labour Party with the SDAP and the VDB is its major components.
or latitudinarian
tendencies in the Church and more progressive and social tendencies in liberalism, as opposed to classical liberalism
.
The term "Democratic" is included in the parties name because of its clear commitment to further democratization of the Dutch political system. The term "League" is used instead of "Party" because the organization was not a centralized, strictly organized mass party but rather a loose league of politicians and local caucus
es.
Politics of the Netherlands
The politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
liberal
Liberalism in the Netherlands
This article gives an overview of liberalism in the Netherlands. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament.-Background:...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. The VDB played a relatively large role in Dutch politics, supplying one prime minister. The League is a predecessor of two of the major Dutch political parties, the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
(VVD) and the social-democratic Dutch Labour Party (PvdA). The social-liberal Democraten 66 claims that it and the VDB are ideologically connected.
Before 1901
The VDB is a merger of two groups; one, the Radical LeagueRadical League
The Radical League was a Dutch progressive liberal political party. The league is historically linked with the PvdA.-Party History:...
, was founded in 1892 as an Amsterdam secession of the Liberal Union
Liberal Union
The Liberal Union was a Dutch liberal political party. A major party in its time, the LU was one of the historic predecessors of the Liberal State Party, and therefore of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy....
; they left the Union over the issue of universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
. The second group was the Free-thinking Democratic political club (Dutch: Vrijzinnig Democratische Kamerclub, VD-kamerclub). This was a club of Liberal Union MPs (in 1901 it had about twenty-five members, out of thirty-five Liberal Union MPs and one hundred MPs in total). The second group left the Union over the same matter. In 1901 the board of the Liberal Union, supported by the VD-kamerclub, proposed that all its candidates would stand on a platform of universal suffrage. The party congress rejected this proposal. In reaction to this the party's board, some of the members of the VD-kamerclub, and some of the party caucuses left the party.
1901-1917
The two groups, the Radical League and the VD-kamerclub, merged in 1901 to form the Free-minded Democratic League. In the 1901 electionsDutch general election, 1901
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands in 1901.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party...
they won nine seats. The party always remained rather small, but because of their strategic position and quality of their MPs the party was very influential.
Although the VDB had split from the Liberal Union and the other liberal split, the League of Free Liberals, was against universal suffrage, they still needed each other to form a liberal alternative to the Christian-democratic coalition. In many districts there was only one liberal candidate supported by all three liberal parties.
In 1905 the VDB won two seats. From 1905 to 1908 the Liberal Union and the VDB formed a liberal minority cabinet led by De Meester. The cabinet was supported by socialist Social Democratic Workers' Party
Social Democratic Workers' Party (Netherlands)
The Social Democratic Workers' Party was a Dutch socialist political party and a predecessor of the social-democratic PvdA.-1893-1904:...
(SDAP). In the 1909
Dutch general election, 1909
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands in 1909.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party...
elections the Christian-democratic coalitie
Christian democracy in the Netherlands
This article gives an overview of christian democracy in the Netherlands, which is also called confessional politics, including political Catholicism and Protestantism. It is limited to Christian democratic parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament...
regained its majority. The VDB lost two seats, making its total nine. In the elections of 1913
Dutch general election, 1913
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands in 1913.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party...
the Christian democrats lost their majority. The VDB lost four seats, because it was no the only liberal party in favour of universal suffrage; the Liberal Union and the League of Free Liberals had also included in their programmes. Furthermore the socialist SDAP performed exceptionally well in these elections. The leader of the VDB, dr Dirk Bos, tried to form a cabinet with the liberals, free liberals, socialists and free-thinking democrats. The socialists refused to cooperate, because one of their major issues (unilateral disarmament of the Netherlands) could not be realized. A liberal extra-parliamentary cabinet
Cabinet of the Netherlands
The cabinet of the Netherlands is the main executive body of the Dutch government. The current cabinet of the Netherlands is the Rutte cabinet.-Composition and role:...
was formed, led by Pieter Cort van der Linden
Pieter Cort van der Linden
Pieter Wilhelm Adriaan Cort van der Linden was a Dutch politician. He served as prime minister of the Netherlands between 1913 and 1918....
. It implemented universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
and proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
.
During this cabinet a conflict between the VDB parliamentary party and minister Treub led to his resignation. Treub left the party and founded the Economic League
Economic League (Netherlands)
The Economic League was a Dutch liberal political party. It played only a marginal role in Dutch politics.-Party History:...
, which would merge with the Liberal Union to form the Liberal State Party
Liberal State Party
The Liberal State Party, "the Freedom League" , was a Dutch conservative liberal political party from 1921 to 1948...
.
1918-1945
In the 1918 elections, with universal suffrage and proportional representation in place, the liberal allianceLiberalism in the Netherlands
This article gives an overview of liberalism in the Netherlands. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament.-Background:...
lost nearly half its seats. The VDB remains relatively stable with five seats, but they were nonetheless forced to a position in opposition to a Christian-democratic cabinet. In 1919, however, VDB leader Henri Marchant initiated the law for female suffrage. In the 1922 elections the party retained its five seats.
In 1925 the party was instrumental in the fall of the cabinet led by Hendrikus Colijn
Hendrikus Colijn
Hendrikus Colijn was a successful Dutch soldier, businessman and politician.-Early life:He was born in 1869 in the Haarlemmermeer to Antonie Colijn and Anna Verkuil, who had migrated to the Haarlemmermeer polder from the Land of Heusden and Altena for religious reasons...
: each year the orthodox Protestant Political Reformed Party (SGP) proposed that the Dutch representation at the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
be removed. The Protestant SGP was fervently anti-Catholic. This proposal was always supported by the Protestant Christian Historical Union
Christian Historical Union
The Christian Historical Union was a Dutch conservative Protestant political party. The CHU is one of the predecessors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.-History before 1908:...
(CHU), which was part of the Catholic-Protestant cabinet, but nonetheless had an anti-Catholic history. For the Catholic
Algemeene Bond van RK-kiesverenigingen
The General League of Roman Catholic Caucuses was a Dutch Catholic political party...
leader Nolens, this Papal representation was of utmost importance. In 1925 the VDB had convinced the other opposition parties that this was their chance to let the government fall and create a progressive cabinet. The entire opposition voted with the SGP and CHU, and the cabinet fell. In the following 1925
Dutch general election, 1925
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 1, 1925.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party * Agrarians' League...
elections the party gained two seats. The party leader, Marchant, attempted to form a progressive government with the Roman-Catholic State Party
Roman-Catholic State Party
Roman-Catholic Political Party was a Dutch Catholic Christian-Democratic political party. The party was founded in 1926 as a continuation of the General League. In 1945 the party became the Catholic People's Party .-History:...
(RKSP), the SDAP and the VDB. He failed, however, and a new Christian-democratic cabinet was formed.
In the 1929
Dutch general election, 1929
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 3, 1929.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party * Agrarians' League...
elections the VDB retained its seven seats. In 1933
Dutch general election, 1933
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on April 26, 1933.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party...
the party lost one seat, but it was nonetheless asked to cooperate in the centre-right government led by Colijn
Hendrikus Colijn
Hendrikus Colijn was a successful Dutch soldier, businessman and politician.-Early life:He was born in 1869 in the Haarlemmermeer to Antonie Colijn and Anna Verkuil, who had migrated to the Haarlemmermeer polder from the Land of Heusden and Altena for religious reasons...
, which consisted of the Catholic RKSP, the Protestant CHU and ARP, and the liberal VDB and Liberal State Party. The VDB cooperated in the budget cuts and the strengthening of the Dutch armed forces. The previously good relations with the SDAP came under considerable strain from this. In 1933 the party's leader, Marchant, who also served as minister of Education, stepped down because he had turned Catholic. Pieter Oud
Pieter Oud
Pieter Jacobus Oud was a prominent liberal Dutch politician who served held numerous political offices, including member of the House of Representatives, Minister of Finance and Mayor of Rotterdam. He was one of the founding member of the Dutch Labour Party and the People's Party for Freedom and...
took his place as political leader of the VDB, until he became major of Rotterdam in 1938. In 1937
Dutch general election, 1937
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on May 26, 1937.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party...
they managed to retain their seven seats. In 1941 the party was forbidden by the German occupying force. The VDB played a minor role in the 1940-1945 cabinets in exile.
Dissolution
After the German occupation there was a widespread feeling that a new political party was necessary, one that was not part of the pillarized system. This movement was called the doorbraak. Willem SchermerhornWillem Schermerhorn
Willem "Wim" Schermerhorn was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1945 until 1946. He was the first Prime Minister after World War II. -Early life:...
became the first Prime minister
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
after the Second World War. He led a cabinet composed out of progressives of all parties. In 1946 the VDB merged with the social-democratic SDAP and the progressive Christian Democratic Union
Christian Democratic Union (Netherlands)
The Christian-Democratic Union was a minor Christian left party in the Netherlands in the interbellum.-History:...
(CDU) to form the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA). However, this party soon strengthened its ties to socialist organizations. In 1948 a group dissatisfied with the failed doorbraak and the socialist course of the PvdA left the party. These were all former VDB members, led by former VDB leader Pieter Oud
Pieter Oud
Pieter Jacobus Oud was a prominent liberal Dutch politician who served held numerous political offices, including member of the House of Representatives, Minister of Finance and Mayor of Rotterdam. He was one of the founding member of the Dutch Labour Party and the People's Party for Freedom and...
. Together with the conservative-liberal Freedom Party
Freedom Party (Netherlands)
The Freedom Party was a short lived Dutch liberal political party. The PvdV was a predecessor of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy.-Party History:...
(PvdV), they founded the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
. The influence of the VDB on the PvdA soon weakened as the party became an ordinary social-democratic party.
Name
The party specifically did not call itself liberal, because of the connotations with conservative liberalism. They preferred the word vrijzinnig, which means "free-minded" or "free-thinking". It also has meanings in the Protestant church referring to more liberal, latitudinarian sections of the church. Democracy furthermore was a core issue for the League. The party did not call itself a party because in liberal circles parties were seen as factionalist and incompatible with the common good.Ideology and issues
The VDB started out as a leftLeft-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
, social
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
or progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
liberal
Liberalism worldwide
This article gives information on liberalism in diverse countries around the world. It is an overview of parties that adhere more or less to the ideas of political liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world....
party, committed to universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
and the construction of a welfare state
Welfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
. It favoured the democratization of the Dutch political system. Female suffrage was one of its most important issues.
It favoured government influence in the national economy by nationalizing crucial industries. It also believed that government should play an important part in ensuring the welfare of the population; hence, it favoured the implementation of state pensions for the elderly.
Before the First World War it favoured an army formed by national conscription. After the war and until the 1930s, it favoured unilateral disarmement. This position was abandoned with the rise of international tensions after 1933.
Leadership
This table shows the VDB's results in elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, as well as the party's political leadership: the fractievoorzitter, is the chair of the parliamentary party and the lijsttrekker is the party's top candidate in the general election, these posts are normally taken by the party's leader. If the party is part of the governing coalition the highest ranking minister is included, otherwise this will read opposition.| Year | HoR | S | Fractievoorzitter | Lijsttrekker Lijsttrekker Lijsttrekker is a Dutch term for the top candidate of a party on a party list. He or she is almost always the party's political leader. After an election, this person usually leads the party's faction in the States-General, or serves in a senior position in the Cabinet if his party is part of... |
Cabinet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 Dutch general election, 1901 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands in 1901.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party... |
9 | 0 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | opposition |
| 1902 | 9 | 0 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | opposition |
| 1903 | 9 | 0 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | opposition |
| 1904 | 9 | 1 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | opposition |
| 1905 Dutch general election, 1905 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands in 1905.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party... |
11 | 1 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | Jacob Veegens |
| 1906 | 11 | 1 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | Jacob Veegens |
| 1907 | 11 | 1 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | Jacob Veegens |
| 1908 | 11 | 1 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | opposition |
| 1909 Dutch general election, 1909 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands in 1909.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party... |
9 | 1 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | opposition |
| 1910 | 9 | 1 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | opposition |
| 1911 | 9 | 2 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | opposition |
| 1912 | 9 | 2 | Hendrik Drucker | n/a | opposition |
| 1913 Dutch general election, 1913 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands in 1913.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party... |
5 | 2 | Dirk Bos | n/a | Willem Treub Willem Treub Marie Willem Frederik Treub was a Dutch politician.-References:* in the Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland... |
| 1914 | 5 | 2 | Dirk Bos | n/a | supports cabinet of Cort van der Linden Pieter Cort van der Linden Pieter Wilhelm Adriaan Cort van der Linden was a Dutch politician. He served as prime minister of the Netherlands between 1913 and 1918.... |
| 1915 | 5 | 2 | Dirk Bos | n/a | supports cabinet of Cort van der Linden |
| 1916 | 5 | 3 | Henri Marchant | n/a | supports cabinet of Cort van der Linden |
| 1917 Dutch general election, 1917 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands in 1917.In this election, the parties agreed to hold elections in which the incumbent members of parliament were the only candidates in order to allow a change in the constitution to introduce... |
5 | 3 | Henri Marchant | n/a | supports cabinet of Cort van der Linden |
| 1918 Dutch general election, 1918 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 3, 1918. It was the first election in which universal male suffrage was applied, and the first in which a system of proportional representation was used... |
5 | 3 | Henri Marchant | Henri Marchant | supports cabinet of Cort van der Linden |
| 1919 | 5 | 3 | Henri Marchant | n/a | opposition |
| 1920 | 5 | 3 | Henri Marchant | n/a | opposition |
| 1921 | 5 | 3 | Henri Marchant | n/a | opposition |
| 1922 Dutch general election, 1922 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 5, 1922. It was the first election under universal suffrage, which became reality after the acceptance of a proposal by Marchant in 1919 that gave women full voting rights... |
5 | 4 | Henri Marchant | Henri Marchant | opposition |
| 1923 | 5 | 3 | Henri Marchant | n/a | opposition |
| 1924 | 5 | 3 | Henri Marchant | n/a | opposition |
| 1925 Dutch general election, 1925 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 1, 1925.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party * Agrarians' League... |
7 | 3 | Henri Marchant | Henri Marchant | opposition |
| 1926 | 7 | 3 | Henri Marchant | n/a | opposition |
| 1927 | 7 | 3 | Henri Marchant | n/a | opposition |
| 1928 | 7 | 3 | Henri Marchant | n/a | opposition |
| 1929 Dutch general election, 1929 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 3, 1929.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party * Agrarians' League... |
7 | 4 | Henri Marchant | Henri Marchant | opposition |
| 1930 | 7 | 4 | Henri Marchant | n/a | opposition |
| 1931 | 7 | 4 | Henri Marchant | n/a | opposition |
| 1932 | 7 | 4 | Henri Marchant | n/a | opposition |
| 1933 Dutch general election, 1933 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on April 26, 1933.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party... |
6 | 4 | Henri Marchant | Dolf Joekes | Pieter Oud Pieter Oud Pieter Jacobus Oud was a prominent liberal Dutch politician who served held numerous political offices, including member of the House of Representatives, Minister of Finance and Mayor of Rotterdam. He was one of the founding member of the Dutch Labour Party and the People's Party for Freedom and... |
| 1934 | 6 | 4 | Dolf Joekes | n/a | Pieter Oud |
| 1935 | 7 | 4 | Dolf Joekes | n/a | Pieter Oud |
| 1936 | 6 | 4 | Dolf Joekes | n/a | Pieter Oud |
| 1937 Dutch general election, 1937 A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on May 26, 1937.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party... |
6 | 2 | Pieter Oud Pieter Oud Pieter Jacobus Oud was a prominent liberal Dutch politician who served held numerous political offices, including member of the House of Representatives, Minister of Finance and Mayor of Rotterdam. He was one of the founding member of the Dutch Labour Party and the People's Party for Freedom and... |
Pieter Oud | opposition |
| 1938 | 6 | 2 | Dolf Joekes | n/a | opposition |
| 1939 | 6 | 2 | Dolf Joekes | n/a | Gerrit Bolkestein Gerrit Bolkestein Gerrit Bolkestein was a Dutch politician and member of the Free-thinking Democratic League.... |
| 1940 | SG | out | of | session | Gerrit Bolkestein |
| 1941 | SG | out | of | session | Gerrit Bolkestein |
| 1942 | SG | out | of | session | Gerrit Bolkestein |
| 1943 | SG | out | of | session | Gerrit Bolkestein |
| 1944 | SG | out | of | session | Gerrit Bolkestein |
| 1945 | 6 | 2 | Dolf Joekes | n/a | Willem Schermerhorn Willem Schermerhorn Willem "Wim" Schermerhorn was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1945 until 1946. He was the first Prime Minister after World War II. -Early life:... (PM Prime Minister of the Netherlands The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government... ) |
Municipal government
In its strongholds of Amsterdam and Rotterdam the party provided various mayors. The former VDB leader Oud was mayor of Rotterdam between 1938 and 1941.Electorate
The VDB was mainly supported by atheists or liberalLiberal religion
Liberal religion is a religious tradition which embraces the theological diversity of a congregation rather than a single creed, authority, or writing...
protestants from higher classe
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
s: the party was supported by teachers, civil servants, intellectuals and educated teachers. Regionally the VDB received most of its support form the large cities Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, but also from provincial centres in Groningen
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
, Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
, North
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
and South Holland
South Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
.
Pillarisation
The VDB lacked a real system of pillarized organisations around it. 'Neutral' organisations, which were not linked to a pillar, often had friendly relations with the VDB. This included the general broadcasting association AVROAvro
Avro was a British aircraft manufacturer, with numerous landmark designs such as the Avro 504 trainer in the First World War, the Avro Lancaster, one of the pre-eminent bombers of the Second World War, and the delta wing Avro Vulcan, a stalwart of the Cold War.-Early history:One of the world's...
(Algemene Verenigde Radio Omroep, General United Radio Broadcasting Organisation), the general union ANWV (Algemene Nederlandse Werkelieden Vereniging, the General Dutch Workers' Association); furthermore, the neutral employers' organisation VNO
VNO-NCW
VNO-NCW is a Dutch employers' federation.-History:VNO-NCW was founded in 1996 as fusion of the Christian-democratic Nederlands Christelijk Werkgeversverbond , which was founded as fusion of the Protestant PCW and the Catholic NKW, and the liberal Verbond van Nederlandse Ondernemingen...
and the financial paper Het Handelsblad
NRC Handelsblad
NRC Handelsblad, often abbreviated to NRC, is a daily evening newspaper published in the Netherlands by NRC Media. The newspaper was created on October 1, 1970, from merger of the Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant and Algemeen Handelsblad . In 2006 a morning newspaper, nrc•next, was launched...
had good relations with the League. Together with the other liberal party, the Liberal State Party, these organisations formed the weak general pillar.
Relationships with other parties
The VDB was part of the ConcentrationLiberalism in the Netherlands
This article gives an overview of liberalism in the Netherlands. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament.-Background:...
the alliance with the liberal Liberal Union
Liberal Union
The Liberal Union was a Dutch liberal political party. A major party in its time, the LU was one of the historic predecessors of the Liberal State Party, and therefore of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy....
and League of Free Liberals
League of Free Liberals
The League of Free Liberals was a Dutch conservative liberal political party and a predecessor of the Liberal State Party which is historically linked to the VVD, the major Dutch liberal party.-Party History:...
. These parties had good relations. The VDB served as bridge between the liberals and the socialist Social Democratic Workers' Party
Social Democratic Workers' Party (Netherlands)
The Social Democratic Workers' Party was a Dutch socialist political party and a predecessor of the social-democratic PvdA.-1893-1904:...
. The SDAP supported two liberal minority cabinets, but the SDAP was unwilling to join a cabinet with these bourgeoise parties in 1913. After 1918, when the liberals lost more than half of their seats, the relations with Concentration dissolved and the two other concentration parties merged to form the Liberal State Party
Liberal State Party
The Liberal State Party, "the Freedom League" , was a Dutch conservative liberal political party from 1921 to 1948...
. The VDB continued to serve as the bridge between liberals and socialists. This strategy resulted in the fall of the cabinet Ruys van Beerenbrouck in 1925. The VDB was unable to form a government of liberals, socialists and Catholics. In 1933 the relations between the SDAP and the VDB worsened as the VDB joined the Cabinet Colijn, which had a very conservative economic policy. Their cooperation in the Second World War improved the relations between SDAP and VDB considerably. This led to the Doorbraak and the formation of the Labour Party with the SDAP and the VDB is its major components.
Name
Like other liberal parties in Europe, such as the Swiss Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei, the party did not have the word "Liberal" in its name. Instead it used the term "Vrijzinnig" which is difficult to translate into English. The term, which literally translated would be "Free thinking" or "Free minded" is used to refer to both liberalLiberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
or latitudinarian
Latitudinarian
Latitudinarian was initially a pejorative term applied to a group of 17th-century English theologians who believed in conforming to official Church of England practices but who felt that matters of doctrine, liturgical practice, and ecclesiastical organization were of relatively little importance...
tendencies in the Church and more progressive and social tendencies in liberalism, as opposed to classical liberalism
Classical liberalism
Classical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
.
The term "Democratic" is included in the parties name because of its clear commitment to further democratization of the Dutch political system. The term "League" is used instead of "Party" because the organization was not a centralized, strictly organized mass party but rather a loose league of politicians and local caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
es.