Editing Christian Union (Netherlands)

{{Infobox political party
| country          = the Netherlands
| colorcode        = {{Political party data|color}}
| name             = Christian Union
| native_name      = {{lang|nl|ChristenUnie|italic=no}}
| logo             = ChristenUnie logo.svg
| logo_size        = 250px
| abbreviation     = CU
| leader           = [[Mirjam Bikker]] ([[Leader of the Christian Union|list]])
| chairman         = [[Ankie van Tatenhove]]
| leader2_title    = Leader in the Senate
| leader2_name     = [[Tineke Huizinga]]
| leader3_title    = Leader in the House of Representatives
| leader3_name     = [[Mirjam Bikker]]
| foundation       = {{Start date|2000|01|22|df=y}}
| merger           = [[Reformed Political Alliance]] <br/> [[Reformatory Political Federation]]
| headquarters     = Partijbureau ChristenUnie<br>Johan van Oldebarneveltlaan 46, [[Amersfoort]]
| youth_wing       = [[PerspectieF]]
| wing1_title      = Think tank
| wing1            = [[Mr. G. Groen van Prinsterer Stichting]]
| membership       = {{decrease}} 23,975<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.rug.nl/research/dnpp/themas/ledentallen/ledental-2025 |date = 10 March 2025 |access-date = 7 April 2025 |language = nl |website = [[University of Groningen]] |publisher = Documentation Centre Dutch Political Parties |title = Ledentallen Nederlandse politieke partijen per 1 januari 2025 |trans-title = Membership of Dutch political parties as of 1 January 2025 }}</ref>
| membership_year  = January 2025
| ideology         = {{ubl|[[Christian democracy]]<ref name="PEE">{{cite web|first=Wolfram|last=Nordsieck|year=2021|title=Netherlands|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|access-date=24 March 2021|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/netherlands.html}}</ref>|[[Social conservatism]]<ref name="PEE"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Terry|first=Chris|url=https://www.demsoc.org/2014/05/11/christianunion-cu-political-reformed-party-sgp/|title=ChristianUnion (CU) & Political Reformed Party (SGP)|date=11 May 2014|website=The Democratic Society|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213142330/https://www.demsoc.org/2014/05/11/christianunion-cu-political-reformed-party-sgp/|archive-date=13 December 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
| position         = {{nowrap|'''Fiscal''': [[Centrism|Centre]]<ref>{{cite book |author1=Jort Statema |author2=Paul Aarts |chapter=The Netherlands: Follow Washington, Be a Good European |editor1=Timo Behr |editor2=Teija Tiilikainen |editor-link2=Teija Tiilikainen |title=Northern Europe and the Making of the EU's Mediterranean and Middle East Policies |at=note on p. 237}}</ref> to [[centre-left]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nsd.no/european_election_database/country/netherlands/parties.html|publisher=[[Norwegian Centre for Research Data]]|work=European Election Database|title=Netherlands&nbsp;– Political parties|access-date=23 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Oomkes |first=Lex |title=Uitersten in politiek landschap winnen terrein |url=https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/uitersten-in-politiek-landschap-winnen-terrein~bf8c72e9/ |website=Trouw |access-date=31 July 2020 |language=nl-NL |date=15 August 2012}}</ref><br>'''Social''': [[Centre-right]]<ref>{{cite book |author1=Rudy B. Andeweg |author2=Galen A. Irwin |title=Governance and Politics of the Netherlands |edition=4th |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2014 |page=74}}</ref>}}
| religion         = {{nowrap|[[Calvinism|Orthodox Protestant]]}}<ref group="note">"Orthodox Protestantism" is a term which is used in the Netherlands to refer to conservative forms of [[Protestantism]] in contrast to [[Progressive Christianity|liberal]] or [[Freethought|free-thinking]] forms of Protestantism. This includes conservative branches of the [[Dutch Reformed Church]] and the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (now united in the [[Protestant Church of the Netherlands]]), but also to independent forms of Reformed Protestantism, such as the [[Reformed Churches (Liberated)]] or other more conservative forms of Protestantism, such as the certain branches of [[Baptists|Baptism]] like [[Reformed Baptists|Reformed]] and [[Primitive Baptists|Primitive]] Baptists. It is unrelated to the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].</ref>
| european         = [[European Christian Political Party]]
| europarl         = [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group]] (2009–2019)<br>[[European People's Party Group]] (2019–2024)
| affiliation1_title = [[Benelux Parliament]] group
| affiliation1     = [[Benelux Parliament|Christian Group]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.beneluxparl.eu/nl/politieke-fracties/ |title= Politieke fracties |website=[[Benelux Parliament]] |language=nl |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>
| colours          = {{color box|#00a7eb|border=darkgray}} [[Sky blue]]<br>{{color box|#072e65|border=darkgray}} [[Blue (colour)|Dark blue]]
| slogan           = {{langx|nl|Geef geloof een stem}}<br>(Give faith a voice/vote)
<!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q239539 -->
| seats1_title     = [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]]
| seats1           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-upper-house|percent=yes}}
| seats2_title     = [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]]
| seats2           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house|percent=yes}}
| seats3_title     = [[European Parliament]]
| seats3           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ep|percent=yes}}
| seats4_title     = [[Provincial council (Netherlands)|Provincial councils]]
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|21|570|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[King's Commissioner]]s
| seats5           = {{Composition bar|1|12|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| seats6_title     = [[Benelux Parliament]]
| seats6           = {{Composition bar|2|21|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| website          = {{Political party data|website}}
}}

The '''Christian Union''' ({{langx|nl|ChristenUnie}} {{IPA|nl|ˌkrɪstənˈyni, -təˈʔy-|}}; '''CU''') is a [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]]<ref name="StarkeKaasch2013">{{cite book|author1=Peter Starke|author2=Alexandra Kaasch|author3=Franca Van Hooren|title=The Welfare State as Crisis Manager: Explaining the Diversity of Policy Responses to Economic Crisis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BtMQsESYcWwC&pg=PA193|year=2013|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-1-137-31484-0|page=193}}</ref> [[List of political parties in the Netherlands|political party]] in the [[Netherlands]]. The CU is a centrist party, maintaining more [[Progressivism|progressive]] stances on economic, immigration and environmental issues<ref name="Koopmans2015">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GU-xCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA71|title=Historical Dictionary of the Netherlands|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-4422-5593-7|editor=Joop W. Koopmans|pages=71–72}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Links en rechts|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vh8lnhrp8wsy/links_en_rechts|website=[[Parlement.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Rudy B. Andeweg|title=Governance and Politics of the Netherlands|author2=Galen A. Irwin|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2014|edition=4th|pages=74, 78}}</ref> while holding more [[social conservatism|socially conservative]] positions on issues such as [[abortion]] and [[euthanasia]]. The party describes itself as "social Christian".<ref name="ChristenUnie">{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.parlement.com/9353000/1f/j9vvhy5i95k8zxl/vh8lnhrouwy9 ChristenUnie] ''[[Parlement.com|Parlement & Politiek]]''</ref>

The CU was founded in 2000 as a merger of the [[Reformed Political League]] (GPV) and [[Reformatory Political Federation]] (RPF).<ref name="Koopmans2015"/> After doubling its seat tally in the [[2006 Dutch general election]], it became the smallest member of the [[fourth Balkenende cabinet]], and since that time has been likewise part of the [[third Rutte cabinet]] and the [[fourth Rutte cabinet]].<ref name="Koopmans2015"/> In some elections it forms [[Christian Union – Reformed Political Party|an alliance]] with the Calvinist [[Reformed Political Party]] (SGP), which, unlike the CU, is a [[testimonial party]].

Primarily a [[Protestant]] party, the CU bases its policies on the [[Bible]], and takes the theological principles of [[Charity (virtue)|charity]] and [[Stewardship (theology)|stewardship]] as bases for its support for [[public expenditure]] and [[environmentalism]]. It seeks for government to uphold Christian morality, but supports [[freedom of religion]] under the doctrine of [[sphere sovereignty]]. The party is moderately Eurosceptic; it was formerly in the [[European Parliament]] with the [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group]] (ECR) and [[European People's Party group]] (EPP). It is a member of the [[European Christian Political Party]].

==History==

===Precursors===
{{multiple image
| align = left
| image1 = Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond logo (1996).svg
| width1 = 130
| alt1 = 
| caption1 = 
| image2 = Reformatorische Politieke Federatie logo (1992).svg
| width2 = 120
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| footer = The predecessors of the CU. the [[Reformed Political League]] and the [[Reformatory Political Federation]]
}}
Along with the larger [[Anti-Revolutionary Party]] (ARP), the Netherlands has a long tradition of small orthodox or conservative Protestant (i.e., mostly [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]]) parties in parliament, including the [[Reformed Political Party]] (SGP), founded in 1918. After a group of [[Reformed Churches in the Netherlands|Reformed Churches]] members formed the [[Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)|Reformed Churches (Liberated)]] over a religious disagreement, the [[Reformed Political Alliance]] (GPV) split off from the ARP in 1948.<ref name="rd">{{Cite news |last=Vroegindeweij |first=Gerard |date=4 January 2025 |title=Een kwarteeuw ChristenUnie: van de marge naar de macht en weer terug |trans-title=A quarter century Christian Union: From the fringes to power and back |url=https://www.rd.nl/artikel/1090693-een-kwarteeuw-christenunie-van-de-marge-naar-de-macht-en-weer-terug |url-access=subscription |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=[[Reformatorisch Dagblad]] |language=nl}}</ref> It took until [[1963 Dutch general election|1963]] for the party to enter parliament. In the [[1981 Dutch general election|1981 election]], the [[Reformatory Political Federation]] (RPF) entered parliament. It had split off from the ARP six years earlier over the formation of the [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] (CDA).

{{Politics of the Netherlands}}
The RPF explicitly stated in its manifesto of principles that it sought to unite all reformed parties in the Netherlands.<ref name="rd"/> However, the GPV and SGP were somewhat less receptive. The GPV was only open to a specific current in reformed Protestantism, namely the Reformed Churches (Liberated), and did not wish to cooperate with non-'liberated' reformed: it had rejected on religious grounds the entry of the group that in the 1970s was to become the RPF. The SGP had rejected cooperation with these parties because they had female members; the SGP consistently rejected female suffrage until 2006. The RPF, GPV and SGP were [[Testimonial party|testimonial parties]], which chose to voice their concerns about government policy, while acknowledging that they were not big enough to force their opinion upon others.

In 1984, however, the three parties cooperated in the [[1984 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|European election]] and presented a common list in order to enter the [[European Parliament]]. In the [[1989 Dutch general election|1989 general election]] they formed an [[electoral alliance]] in order to enhance their chances of obtaining seats. In 1995 informal talks were opened between the three parties. The GPV had opened itself to non-liberated members, but the SGP not to women. The discussions with the SGP were broken off and the GPV and RPF continued together. For a long time the GPV was not willing to enter a major internal debate with the RPF, which also performed better electorally; it had won three seats in the [[1998 Dutch general election|1998 election]], while the GPV received only two. From 1998 the two parliamentary parties cooperated with each other, held common meetings and appointed common spokespersons. In 1999 a group called "Transformatie" (Transformation) was set up by young people from both parties in reaction to the slow cooperation process: they tried to intensify the debate about cooperation. In the same year the cooperation talks were formalised and intensified, leading to the foundation of the Christian Union.

=== Establishment ===
[[File:Vicepremier-en-minister-André-Rouvoet.jpg|thumb|right|[[André Rouvoet]], Leader of the Christian Union from 2002 to 2011]]
The Christian Union was founded in January 2000 as an alliance between the RPF and GPV. Later in that year, their youth organisations, GPJC and RPFJ, fused completely, presenting an example to their mother organisations. In 2001, they formed a common [[Fractie|parliamentary party]] in both the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]] and [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]]. In [[2002 Dutch general election|2002]] the alliance entered the election for the first time. The party obtained four seats, one seat less than in the 1998 election when they campaigned separately. It had polled much better, with some polling stations predicting seven or eight seats. The party's leader [[Kars Veling]] stepped down. He had been good at keeping the peace internally in a party still somewhat divided between the old GPV and RPF memberships, but had not appealed well enough to the population at large. With [[Open list|preference votes]] a woman, [[Tineke Huizinga]] (positioned seventh on the CU candidate list) was elected into parliament for the CU, becoming the first woman to enter parliament for the party or its predecessors. Because of her election, prominent party figure [[Eimert van Middelkoop]], who was no. 4 on the candidate-list, had to leave parliament.

In the [[2003 Dutch general election|2003 general election]] the party lost an additional seat, and was left with three seats. Again Huizinga (now no. 4 on the list) was elected with preference votes and this time former RPF leader [[Leen van Dijke]] (no. 3) had to leave parliament. The decline of the CU in 2003 was probably due to party supporters voting for the Christian democratic CDA, which was competing with the social democratic [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|Labour Party]] (PvdA), to become the largest party. The Christian Union was heavily involved in the formation of the [[second cabinet Balkenende]], along with the SGP. However, the liberal [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (VVD) vetoed the formation of a cabinet that included the two conservative Reformed parties, and so the progressive liberal [[D'66|D66]] became a part of the governing alliance instead. In 2004 the two organisations RPF and GPV officially ceased to exist, making final the fusion into the CU.

=== Cabinet participation ===
In the [[2006 Dutch general election|2006 election]] the party doubled its seat count and joined the [[fourth Balkenende cabinet]]. CU leader [[André Rouvoet]] became [[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Deputy Prime Minister]] and [[minister without portfolio]] for [[Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport|family and youth]], while Middelkoop became Minister of Defence and Huizinga junior minister (''staatssecretaris'') of Transport and Water management. Since the party has entered government, there has been some controversy about the conservative Christian ethical views of some of its members. In 2007 [[Yvette Lont]], a CU municipal council member for [[Amsterdam]], expressed the view that homosexuals should not be admitted to representative functions within the party. Also in 2007, municipal council member Monique Heger decided to resign from office, because she had recently discovered that she was a lesbian, and she and her (female) partner moved in together.

After the collapse of the Balkenende cabinet, the Christian Union no longer had representatives in government; Rouvoet returned to parliament as leader of the CU parliamentary group until he left politics in April/May 2011. Arie Slob succeeded him as the party leader.

[[File:Gert-Jan Segers 2018 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|[[Gert-Jan Segers]] Leader of the Christian Union from 2015 to 2023]]

In October 2013, the [[second Rutte cabinet]] (VVD and PvdA), lacking a majority in the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]], reached a budgetary agreement with the CU, the [[Reformed Political Party]] (SGP) and the [[Democrats 66]] (D66). This occasional coalition was nicknamed "purple with the Bible" (''Paars met de Bijbel'') as it included the secular parties VVD, PvdA and D66 plus the religiously-oriented parties Christian Union and SGP. The term "purple with the Bible" had already been used in February that year, when the same parties reached an agreement on modernising the housing market. Although the cabinet was quite unpopular and the VVD and PvdA lost many municipal seats during the [[2014 Dutch municipal elections|municipal elections of 19 March 2014]], the parties that provided tactical support to the government won many seats.

After the [[2017 Dutch general election|2017 general election]], the Christian Union became part of the [[third Rutte cabinet]], as a minor coalition partner to the VVD, CDA and D66. The party has three representatives in the current cabinet: minister [[Carola Schouten]] for the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality]], [[Arie Slob]], [[Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Netherlands)|Minister for Primary Education, Secondary Education and Media]] and [[Paul Blokhuis]], [[Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Netherlands)|State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sports]].

Following the [[2019 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2019 European Parliament election]], the Christian Union left the [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group]] in the [[European Parliament]] (of which it had been a founding member) arguing that the ECR was moving too far to the right by including MEPs of far-right parties such as the Dutch [[Forum for Democracy]] and the [[Sweden Democrats]]. The party instead joined the [[European People's Party Group]].

In January 2023, [[Mirjam Bikker]] succeeded Segers as the party leader.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-13 |title=Wie is Mirjam Bikker, de nieuwe ChristenUnie-leider? 'Slim en betrouwbaar' |url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5359143/wie-mirjam-bikker-de-opvolger-van-gert-jan-segers-bij-christenunie |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=RTL Nieuws |language=nl}}</ref> During the [[2023 Dutch general election]] the Christian Union lost two of their five seats, getting 2% of the votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NOS - Uitslagen Tweede Kamerverkiezingen 2023 |url=https://app.nos.nl/nieuws/tk2023/ |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=app.nos.nl |language=nl}}</ref>

==Ideology==
The CU describes itself as a Christian social party. The party has its roots in orthodox Protestant (i.e. mostly [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]]) parties, often referred to as the "small right". It combines a conservative point of view on ethical and foreign policy issues, with more [[centre-left]] ideas on economic, asylum, social and environmental issues. Its conservative reformed ideals are reflected in its program of principles. It believes that the state is the [[swordmaiden]] of [[God]]. It bases its politics directly on the [[Bible]]. However, it sees separate duties for the state and the church in public life: the church should spread the Word of God, while the state should merely uphold public morality. The state should respect the religion of its citizens. Other Christian principles, like [[neighbourly love]] and [[stewardship]] for the Earth, however have given the CU's political program a centre-left orientation.

Some of CU's [[socially conservative]] policies include:<ref name="CUS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.christenunie.nl/standpunten|title=Standpunten|website=ChristenUnie.nl}}</ref>
* Facilitation by government of a one-earner model, allowing one parent, usually the wife, to stay at home and take care of the children.
* Society should cherish its collective moments of rest, and preferably leave [[Sabbath in Christianity|Sunday]] a day of rest.
* [[Abortion]] and [[euthanasia]]-practices should be reduced and eventually replaced by alternatives, such as care of women with unwanted pregnancies and [[palliative care]].
* The Dutch policy of [[Drug policy of the Netherlands|toleration of soft drugs]] should be abandoned.
* Combatting [[child pornography]] and [[prostitution in the Netherlands|prostitution]].
* Defending the [[freedom of education]] (that is, to found religious schools), because of [[sphere sovereignty]].
* The Netherlands should remain an independent political entity within the [[European Union]].
* Limiting the use of [[genetic manipulation]].

More centre-left policies include:
* Public services of [[education]], [[health care]] and social security should remain state run, but on a smaller scale than is presently the case.
* Increased budgets for [[development cooperation]] in order to address the [[third world|poverty in the global south]].
* A more open policy towards [[asylum seeker]]s, especially those who are persecuted for religious reasons.
* A [[Green politics|green]] [[environmental policy]]. Based on its electoral promises on investment in [[green energy]], the Dutch branch of [[Greenpeace]] termed CU the greenest political party in 2006.<ref name="lansingerland.christenunie.nl">{{in lang|nl}} [http://lansingerland.christenunie.nl/k/n10584/news/view/138885/113707/ChristenUnie-op-1-in-energiebarometer-Greenpeace.html ChristenUnie op 1 in energiebarometer Greenpeace] ''Christian Union''</ref>

=== Social issues ===
The CU describes itself as "Christelijk-sociaal" ''(Social Christian)'' and explicitly distance themselves from the labels [[Christian socialism]] or [[Christian right]].<ref name="Andeweg, R p.49">[[Rudy Andeweg|Andeweg, R.]] and G. Irwin ''Politics and Governance in the Netherlands'', Basingstoke (Palgrave) p.49</ref><ref name="PEE"/> "Social Christian" describes a [[Christian democracy]] ideology that is more right-wing than Christian socialism and more left-wing than the Christian right and social conservatism. Described as [[Centrism|centrist]] and [[Calvinism|Orthodox Protestant]], it has an emphasis on the community, social solidarity, support for a welfare state, and support for some regulation of market forces but is more conservative on some social issues opposition to [[euthanasia]], [[Embryonic stem cell|embryonic stem cell research]], [[same-sex marriage in the Netherlands|same-sex marriage]], [[abortion]], and some elements of [[Euroscepticism|the EU]]. The party is left of centre on issues such as [[social policy]], [[Right of asylum|asylum policy]], [[development aid]], green [[environmental policy]] and the [[economy]].<ref name="ChristenUnie"/><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4500/Politiek/article/detail/1869670/2011/04/04/CU-is-niet-meer-christelijk-sociaal.dhtml CU is niet meer 'christelijk-sociaal'] ''[[Trouw]]''</ref>

The party supports Dutch membership of the [[European Union]] to ensure peace and prosperity, and to counter the influence of Russia and China, while simultaneously being critical of several EU policies which it claims are undemocratic and "mainly benefits large companies and the upper middle classes." The CU instead calls for more transparency within the EU, for domestic decision making of EU member states to be respected and wants reforms made to the [[Eurozone]]. The CU is also against the [[accession of Turkey to the European Union]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.christenunie.nl/standpunt/europa|title = Europa - ChristenUnie.nl}}</ref>

== Election results ==

===House of Representatives===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
! Election
! [[Lead candidate]]
! List
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
! Government
|-
! [[2002 Dutch general election|2002]]
| align="left"| [[Kars Veling]]
| [[List of Christian Union candidates in the 2002 Dutch general election|List]]
| 240,953
| 2.54
| {{Composition bar compact|4|150|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2003 Dutch general election|2003]]
| rowspan=3 align="left"|[[André Rouvoet]]
| [[List of Christian Union candidates in the 2003 Dutch general election|List]]
| 204,649
| 2.12
| {{Composition bar compact|3|150|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2006 Dutch general election|2006]]
| [[List of Christian Union candidates in the 2006 Dutch general election|List]]
| 390,969
| 3.97
| {{Composition bar compact|6|150|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{increase}} 3
| {{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
! [[2010 Dutch general election|2010]]
| [[List of Christian Union candidates in the 2010 Dutch general election|List]]
| 305,094
| 3.24
| {{Composition bar compact|5|150|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2012 Dutch general election|2012]]
| align="left"| [[Arie Slob]]
| [[List of Christian Union candidates in the 2012 Dutch general election|List]]
| 294,586
| 3.13
| {{Composition bar compact|5|150|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{steady}}
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2017 Dutch general election|2017]]
| rowspan=2 align="left" |[[Gert-Jan Segers]]
| [[List of Christian Union candidates in the 2017 Dutch general election|List]]
| 356,271
| 3.39
| {{Composition bar compact|5|150|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{steady}} 
| {{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
! [[2021 Dutch general election|2021]]
| [[List of Christian Union candidates in the 2021 Dutch general election|List]]
| 350,523
| 3.37
| {{Composition bar compact|5|150|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{steady}} 
| {{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
! [[2023 Dutch general election|2023]]
| align="left"| [[Mirjam Bikker]]
| [[List of Christian Union candidates in the 2023 Dutch general election|List]]
| 212,532
| 2.04
| {{Composition bar compact|3|150|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|}

=== Senate ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
! Election
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
|-
! [[1999 Dutch Senate election|1999]]
| 
| 
| {{Composition bar compact|4|75|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
|-
! [[2003 Dutch Senate election|2003]]
| 
| 
| {{composition bar compact|2|75|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
! [[2007 Dutch Senate election|2007]]
| 
| 
| {{composition bar compact|4|75|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
|-
! [[2011 Dutch Senate election|2011]]
|
| 
| {{composition bar compact|2|75|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
! [[2015 Dutch Senate election|2015]]
| 32
| 
| {{composition bar compact|3|75|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
|-
! [[2019 Dutch Senate election|2019]]
| 33
| 5.03
| {{composition bar compact|4|75|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
|-
! [[2023 Dutch Senate election|2023]]
| 23
| 3.73
| {{composition bar compact|3|75|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|}

===European Parliament===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! Election
! List
! Votes
! % 
! Seats
! +/–
! EP Group
|-
! [[2004 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2004]]{{efn|name="SGP-CU"|In a joint list with [[Reformed Political Party]].}}
| [[Party lists in the 2004 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#Christian Union-SGP|List]]
| 279,880
| 5.87
| style="text-align: right;" | {{composition bar compact|1|27|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| New
| [[Independence/Democracy|IND/DEM]]
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[2009 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2009]]{{efn|name="SGP-CU"}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Party lists in the 2009 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#Christian Union-SGP|List]]
| rowspan="2" | 310,540
| rowspan="2" | 6.82
| style="text-align: right;" | {{composition bar compact|1|25|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| rowspan="3" |[[European Conservatives and Reformists Group|ECR]]
|-
| style="text-align: right;" | {{composition bar compact|1|26|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2014]]{{efn|name="SGP-CU"}}
| [[Party lists in the 2014 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#Christian Union-SGP|List]]
| 364,843
| 7.67
| style="text-align: right;" | {{composition bar compact|1|26|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[2019 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2019]]{{efn|name="SGP-CU"}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Party lists in the 2019 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#Christian Union-SGP|List]]
| rowspan="2" | 375,660
| rowspan="2" | 6.83
| style="text-align: right;" | {{composition bar compact|1|26|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
| rowspan="2" |[[European People's Party Group|EPP]]
|-
| style="text-align: right;" | {{composition bar compact|1|29|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{steady}} 0
|-
! [[2024 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2024]]
| [[Party lists in the 2024 European Parliament election in the Netherlands#Christian Union|List]]
| 180,060
| 2.89
| style="text-align: right;" | {{composition bar compact|0|31|hex={{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| –
|}
{{Notelist}}

== Representation ==

=== Members of the cabinet ===
[[File:Bewindslieden ChristenUnie 2018.jpg|thumb|Christian Union members in [[third Rutte cabinet]]. left to right: [[Paul Blokhuis]], [[Carola Schouten]], [[Arie Slob]]]]
From 2007 to 2010 the CU supplied two ministers and one state secretary in the [[fourth Balkenende cabinet]]:
* [[André Rouvoet]], [[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Deputy Prime Minister]] and [[Minister without portfolio]] for [[Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport|Youth and Family Affairs]]
* [[Eimert van Middelkoop]], [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Minister of Defence]]
* [[Tineke Huizinga]], [[Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (Netherlands)|State Secretary and Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning]]

Starting in 2017, the CU has once again supplied two ministers and one state secretary in the [[third Rutte cabinet]]:
* [[Carola Schouten]], [[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Deputy Prime Minister]] and [[Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality|Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality]]
* [[Arie Slob]], [[Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Netherlands)|Minister for Primary Education, Secondary Education and Media]]
* [[Paul Blokhuis]], [[Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport|State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sports]]

The following CU members served in the [[fourth Rutte cabinet]] between 2021 and 2024:
* Carola Schouten, Deputy Prime Minister and [[List of Ministers of Social Affairs of the Netherlands|Minister for Social Affairs and Employment]]
* [[Henk Staghouwer]], [[List of Ministers of Agriculture of the Netherlands|Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality]]
* [[Piet Adema]], Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
* [[Maarten van Ooijen]], State Secretary of Health, Welfare and Sport

===Members of the House of Representatives===
{{Main|List of members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2023–present}}

===Members of the Senate===
{{Main|List of members of the Senate of the Netherlands for Christian Union}}

==Electorate==
The CU was supported by orthodox [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]] of many denominations, such as the [[Christian Reformed Churches]], the [[Reformed Churches in the Netherlands]], [[Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)]] and the [[Dutch Reformed Church]]. But members of newer churches such as the [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] Church and the [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] community also supported this party. The electorate is concentrated in the smaller rural districts in the so-called "[[Bible Belt (Netherlands)|Bible Belt]]" an area of more conservative Christian municipalities that reaches from [[Overijssel]], through the [[Veluwe]] and the [[Biesbos]] to [[Zeeland]]. The party also draws support from Christians with an immigrant background, who are mostly located in the large cities.

The party is also drawing support from a growing number of conservative [[Roman Catholics]], dissatisfied with the less Christian policies of the [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]. Roman Catholics are welcome to become a member of the party although one of the foundations of the party is the [[Heidelberg Catechism]], known for its staunch anti-Catholicism. During the provincial elections of 2007 the party fielded two Roman Catholic candidates on their shortlist of the province of Limburg. This process has alerted some prominent CDA politicians. CU-senator [[Egbert Schuurman]] stated the CU would provide a shelter for everyone who actively believes in Jesus Christ but also said the CU will always be a Protestant party.

The party's congress, held on 13 June 2015, replaced the Heidelberg Catechism with Nicean Creed.

==Organisation==
===Leadership===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
* '''Leader in the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]]'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vh8lnhrouwxt/tweede_kamerfractie_christenunie_cu |title=Tweede Kamerfractie ChristenUnie (CU) |website=[[Parlement.com|Parlement & Politiek]] |language=nl |access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref>
** [[Leen van Dijke]] {{small|(13 March 2001 – 23 May 2002)}}
** [[Kars Veling]] {{small|(23 May 2002 – 12 November 2002)}}
** [[André Rouvoet]] {{small|(12 November 2002 – 22 February 2007)}}
** [[Arie Slob]] {{small|(22 February 2007 – 10 June 2010)}}
** [[André Rouvoet]] {{small|(10 June 2010 – 28 April 2011)}}
** [[Arie Slob]] {{small|(28 April 2011 – 10 November 2015)}}
** [[Gert-Jan Segers]] {{small|(10 November 2015 – 17 January 2023)}}
** [[Mirjam Bikker]] {{small|(18 January 2023 – present)}}
{{Col-2}}
* '''Leader in the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]]'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vh8lnhrqlyx7/eerste_kamerfractie_christenunie_cu |title=Eerste Kamerfractie ChristenUnie (CU) |website=[[Parlement.com|Parlement & Politiek]] |language=nl |access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref>
** [[Egbert Schuurman]] {{small|(27 March 2001 – 7 June 2011)}}
** [[Roel Kuiper]] {{small|(7 June 2011 – 2019)}}
** [[Tineke Huizinga]] {{small|(2019 – present)}}
{{Col-end}}

===Organisational structure===
The highest body in the CU is the Union Congress, formed by delegates from the municipal branches. It appoints the party board and decides the order of the candidates on the lists for elections to the Senate, House of Representatives and European Parliament and has the final say over the party program. A member congress has an important role in the formation of the CU's political direction.

===Members===
The CU currently has 25,170 members (as of 1 January 2019). They are organised in over 200 municipal branches.

===Linked organisations===
The youth organisation of the party is [[PerspectieF]] which was formed as a fusion of the two youth organisations of the CU's predecessors the [[GPJC]] and [[RPFJ]]. The party publishes the HandSchrift (HandWriting) six times a year. The party's scientific institute is the Mr. Groen van Prinsterer Foundation, which publishes the DenkWijzer (ThoughtWiser). The women's organisation is Inclusief.

The CU participates in the [[Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy]], a democracy assistance organisation of seven Dutch political parties.

===International organisations===
Internationally, the CU is a member of the [[European Christian Political Party]]. Its MEPs were seated in the [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group]]. Until 2019 when the CU joined the [[European People's Party Group|EPP Group]]

===Orthodox-Protestant (pillarised) organisations===
The CU still has ideological strong links with so-called [[Pillarisation|pillarised organisations]]. Together with conservative [[Parochial school|Protestant schools]], papers like the ''[[Nederlands Dagblad]]'' and the ''[[Reformatorisch Dagblad]]'', the Protestant broadcaster [[Evangelische Omroep]], several Reformed churches they constitute the conservative or orthodox Reformed pillar (Dutch ''zuil''). While all four of the traditional Dutch pillars (socialists, liberals, Protestants and Catholics) have broken down since the 1960s, the orthodox reformed pillar has actually strengthened in reaction to the process of secularisation.

===Relationships to other parties===
The Christian Union had been in the opposition until 2006. It has good relations with the orthodox [[Reformed Political Party]] (SGP), with which it formed a single European parliamentary party [[ChristenUnie-SGP|CU-SGP]] until 2022 and the [[Christian Democratic Appeal]], with which the ChristenUnie-SGP had an [[electoral alliance]] for the [[2004 European Parliament election in the Netherlands|2004 European Parliament elections]]. As an opposition party against the centre-right [[second Balkenende cabinet]], the CU has gained sympathy from the left wing parties in parliament, the [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|Labour Party]], the [[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|Socialist Party]], and the [[GroenLinks]], with which it cooperates in several [[municipal executive]]s after the [[2006 Dutch municipal elections|2006 municipal elections]].

==International comparisons==
The [[Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland]] is nearest to the Christian Union as a conservative Protestant party that is left wing in social matters, conservative in ethical matters and critical of the European Union.

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
* {{official website|https://www.christenunie.nl/en/}} {{in lang|en}}

{{Political parties in the Netherlands}}
{{European Christian Political Movement}}
{{Portal bar|Christianity|Conservatism|Netherlands|Politics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christian Union}}
[[Category:Christian Union (Netherlands)| ]]
[[Category:Confessional parties in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:European Conservatives and Reformists Group member parties]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2000]]
[[Category:Political parties in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Protestant political parties]]
[[Category:Eurosceptic parties in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Social conservative parties]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:European Christian Political Party]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Utrecht (province)]]
[[Category:Conservative parties in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Amersfoort]]
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