One of the first modern political parties, founded in 1877 by theologian and statesman Abraham Kuyper, who wrote its political program and remained its head until 1920. Its principles, formulated by Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer, were inspired by orthodox Protestantism and by the rejection of the ideas and ideals of the French Revolution. Kuyper postulated an antithesis between Christian (Protestant and Roman Catholic) and non-Christian political principles in society. These principles marked the process of the so-called pillarization of political and social life in the Netherlands until the middle of the 20th century. In 1973, the ARP merged with the Protestant Christelijk-Historische Unie (CHU, Christian Historical Union) and the Katholieke Volkspartij (KVP, Catholic People’s Party) into the Christen Democratisch Appel(CDA, Christian Democratic Appeal).
Historical Dictionary of the Netherlands. EdwART. 2012.