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TheRadical League (Dutch:Radicale Bond) was aprogressive liberalpolitical party in theNetherlands from its founding in 1892 until it merged with the left wing of theLiberal Union to form theFree-thinking Democratic League in 1901.
The Radical League originated out of the local progressive liberal caucus "Amsterdam". Leaders of this caucus initiated the formation of a national political party in July 1892, and this resulted in the founding of the Radical League on 9 November 1892. The foremost leader of the new party was the AmsterdamaldermanWillem Treub. The party focused on the extension of universal suffrage as well as combating social deprivation.[1][2]
In 1893, the party won theLeeuwarden seat in a by-election. The newly elected MP was former Amsterdam aldermanCarel Victor Gerritsen, who was also the husband of feministAletta Jacobs. In 1894 the party won two additional seats. They played a minor role in parliament. In 1897 they won an additional seat. The Radicals supported the progressive liberalPierson cabinet, although they were not necessary for its majority. On 17 March 1901, the League merged with another group of progressive former Liberal Union members to form theFree-thinking Democratic League.[1][2]
The League was aprogressiveliberal andradicaldemocratic party, committed to implementation ofuniversal suffrage and social laws. The party was inspired bykathedersocialisme, the progressive politics professed bylatitudinarian preachers. It championed democratisation of the political system by abolishing theSenate and the implementation of areferendum. It favoured the nationalisation of crucial industries like the railways.[1]
This table shows the League's results in elections to the House of Representatives.[3]
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | ± | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1894 | 5,151 | 3.12 | 3 / 100 |  2 | Opposition |
| 1897 | 14,863 | 3.59 | 4 / 100 | 1 | Supporting thePierson cabinet |
The party was particularly strong in Amsterdam. Treub wasalderman there.
The League's electorate centered on Amsterdam, where intellectuals, journalists, teachers and educated workers supported the party.
The small and localised Radical League lacked a system ofpillarised organisations around it. The weekly magazineDe Amsterdammer ("The Amsterdammer") sympathised with the party however.
