Kuyper's cabinet

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Abraham Kuyper was Prime Minister from 1901 to 1905

The Kuyper cabinet was formed in the Netherlands on August 1, 1901 by Prime Minister (Voorzitter van de Ministerraad) Abraham Kuyper of the Anti-Revolutionaire Partij and replaced the Pierson cabinet . It remained in office until August 16, 1905 and was then replaced by the De Meester cabinet .

Policy and legislation of the Kuyper cabinet

The Kuyper coalition cabinet was formed after the right-wing parties won the June 14, 1901 elections. Rooms-Katholieke Bond van Kiesvereinigingen , Anti-Revolutionaire Partij (ARP), Vrij-Antirevolutionaire Partij (VAP) and Christelijk-Historische Kiezersbond (CHKB) together received 57 of the 100 seats in the Second Chamber of the States General . The last two groups, however, stayed outside the cabinet. Until 1904 the cabinet did not have a majority in the Senate . After the University Act was rejected in 1904, the cabinet dissolved the Senate. The elections gave the Kuyper cabinet a majority in the Senate. The cabinet acted on the basis of a twelve-point coalition agreement. Legislation on working conditions and social security has not been very successful. However, the cabinet improved the position of special education, the military criminal law was revised and a new beverage law was introduced.

Boer War

The Dutch government was very sympathetic to the struggle that the “tribal” South African farmers waged against the United Kingdom in the Second Boer War (1899-1902). Queen Wilhelmina tried in vain to mediate in this conflict through both the British Queen Victoria and the German Kaiser Wilhelm II . Kuyper himself played a certain mediating role after the Boer republic was defeated by the British. Kuyper called for a strong foreign policy role for himself, made many visits abroad and thus had greater influence than Foreign Minister Robert Melvil van Lynden , who eventually resigned.

Railway strike 1903

In January 1903 strikes broke out in the ports of Amsterdam . The employers then wanted to hire railway workers to unload the boats. A railway strike broke out across the country in protest. The employers finally gave in to the requirements. In response to these events, the Kuyper cabinet tabled bills banning public service strikes. The submission was not made by letter as usual, but by the ministers personally in the Second Chamber. However, there has been criticism and opposition to these proposals. A union committee decided to call a new strike in April 1903. However, this strike failed, partly because strikers were fired. The anti-strike laws were then swiftly passed by both chambers.

Dissolution of the Senate in 1904

In 1902 the cabinet submitted a proposal to amend the Higher Education Act (Hoger-Onderwijswet) . As a result of this change, someone who graduated from a university that was not subsidized by the government, such as Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , had the same rights as someone who had obtained his degree from a public university. The Second Chamber adopted this law on March 24, 1904 by 56 votes to 41. However, the majority of the Liberal First Chamber rejected the proposal on July 27, 1904 by 27 votes to 22 because they did not want separate Christian universities. Kuyper then dissolved the Senate. With the dissolution of the First Chamber and the resulting new elections, the Liberals lost their majority in the Senate. The rejected draft law was then submitted again and has now been accepted by both chambers of the States General .

Colonial policy

The colonial ministers Titus van Asch van Wijck and Alexander Willem Frederik Idenburg began a policy in the Dutch East Indies that aimed to "uplift" the indigenous population morally and economically, including by improving education and administration as well as cautious welfare policies like improving infrastructure and irrigation. In the Sultanate of Aceh , the colonial war to "pacify" was continued, with the troops of the Royal Dutch Indian Army ( Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger ) under Lieutenant General Jo van Heutsz proceeded with great severity against insurgents.

Other important legislative processes

Finance Minister Jan Harte van Tecklenburg wanted to increase the import tariff in order to protect the Dutch industry and to be able to finance new social measures. His proposal for a customs law (Tariefwet) , submitted in February 1904, was no longer dealt with before the elections. Other important legislative processes were:

  • Professional Act (1902)

The Professional Act (Beroepwet) of 1902 expanded Section 81 of the Accident Act of 1901 (Ongevallenwet) and stated that complaints should be assessed by the Board of Appeal and the Central Board of Appeal (Centrale Raad van Beroep) .

  • New Code of Military Criminal Law and the Law on War Discipline (1903)

In 1903 a new code for military criminal law (Wetboek voor Militair Criminal Law) and a law on war discipline (Wet op de krijgstucht) were passed . These laws replaced many outdated provisions and improved the legal status of the military (especially non-officers). From now on there was an ordinance on military criminal law for land and naval forces. The death penalty was upheld. Military disciplinary sanctions included a downgrading, being placed in a disciplinary class, and a ban on carrying weapons off duty.

  • Decentralization Act for the Dutch East Indies (1903)

This law (Decentralisatiewet) opened up the possibility of a certain autonomy in the Dutch East Indies and the self-administration of regions and parts of regions. On the basis of this law, municipalities were formed and regional councils were established for the fifteen regions in Java and Madura .

  • Telegraph and Telephony Act (1904)

The Telegraaf- und Telefoonwet contained rules for the operation and use of telegraphs and telephones. Among other things, it was determined how the compensation for digging cables must be regulated. The Minister of Water, Trade and Industry set the telephone tariffs.

  • Amendment of the Beverage Act (1904)

The Drankwet introduced a system of municipal permits and permits for the sale of alcoholic beverages. The number of permits for the sale of spirits in a municipality was set to a maximum depending on the number of inhabitants. Alcoholic beverages could not be sold without a permit, but the number of permits was unlimited.

  • Amendment to the Education Act (1905)

As a result of the change in Onderwijswet , schools for special primary education and special gyms were given an additional grant. These had to meet conditions regarding the curriculum and the powers of the teachers.

  • Motor Vehicle and Transport Act (1905)

The engine s rijtuigenwet introduced among other traffic rules and road signs, driving licenses, bike paths, the license plate number, the speed limit and an age limit for drivers of motor vehicles. There was the possibility of fines and driving bans. Speed ​​competitions for automobiles or bicycles on public roads were banned.

  • Lottery Act (1905)

The Loterijwet allowed lotteries to be used only for charitable purposes or to promote science, art or the public interest. However, no cash prizes were allowed.

Cabinet members

The following persons belonged to the cabinet:

Office Official Political party Beginning of the term of office Term expires
Prime Minister Abraham Kuyper ARP July 31, 1901 August 15, 1905
Foreign minister Robert Melvil van Lynden
Vice Admiral Abraham George Ellis (
Acting ) Willem Marcus van Weede van Berencamp
Vice Admiral Abraham George Ellis ( Acting )		 ARP Non-
party
Non-
party		 August 1, 1901
March 9, 1905
April 22, 1905
August 8, 1905		 March 9, 1905
April 22, 1905
August 7, 1905
August 16, 1905
Minister of Justice Jan Loeff Catholic August 1, 1901 August 16, 1905
Interior minister Abraham Kuyper ARP July 31, 1901 August 16, 1905
Finance minister Jan Harte van Tecklenburg Catholic August 1, 1901 August 16, 1905
Minister of War Lieutenant General Johannes Willem Bergansius Catholic August 1, 1901 August 16, 1905
Naval Minister Vice Admiral Gerhardus Kruys
Lieutenant General Johannes Willem Bergansius (acting)
Vice Admiral Abraham George Ellis		 Independent
Catholic
party affiliation		 August 1, 1901
December 12, 1902
March 16, 1903		 December 12, 1902
March 16, 1903
August 16, 1905
Minister for Water Management, Trade and Industry Johannes Christiaan de Marez Oyens ARP August 1, 1901 August 16, 1905
Colonial minister Titus van Asch van Wijck
Lieutenant General Johannes Willem Bergansius (acting)
Alexander Willem Frederik Idenburg 		ARP
Catholic
ARP		 August 1, 1901
September 9, 1902
September 25, 1902		 September 9, 1902
September 24, 1902
August 16, 1905

Web links

Commons : Kabinett Kuyper  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files