School struggle (Netherlands)

The Schoolstrijd (literally "School Struggle"), also known as the Schoolkwestie ("School Question"), was a major political and societal issue in the Netherlands from the mid-19th century until 1917. It centered around the question of state funding for denominational (religious) schools, primarily Roman Catholic and Protestant schools.

Initially, the Dutch constitution stipulated that education was a matter of public concern and that the state had the responsibility to provide public education. This led to the establishment of state-funded public schools, which were meant to be religiously neutral. However, many religious groups felt that these public schools did not adequately represent their values and beliefs and wished to establish their own schools.

The crux of the Schoolstrijd was the demand from religious groups for equal state funding for their denominational schools as was provided to public schools. This demand was fiercely resisted by secular and liberal political factions, who argued that state funding should only be allocated to religiously neutral public education. They feared that funding denominational schools would lead to sectarianism and undermine national unity.

The Schoolstrijd dominated Dutch politics for decades, with various political parties and movements emerging to advocate for or against state funding for religious schools. It led to numerous parliamentary debates, government crises, and public demonstrations. Key figures in the struggle included Abraham Kuyper, a prominent Calvinist theologian and politician who founded the Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), and leading liberal politicians who defended the secular nature of public education.

The issue was finally resolved with the Pacification of 1917, a constitutional amendment that granted equal state funding to both public and denominational schools. In exchange, universal suffrage was introduced. This compromise ended the Schoolstrijd and ushered in a new era of political and social stability in the Netherlands, known as the Verzuiling (pillarization), where society was organized along religious and ideological lines. The Pacification of 1917 is considered a landmark achievement in Dutch political history. While officially ending the struggle, the effects of the Schoolstrijd and the subsequent pillarization significantly shaped the Dutch educational landscape and political system for much of the 20th century.