The KNP served as a Catholic protest party against Indonesian independence.
It rejected the independence of the Dutch Indies and it instead wanted to form a kingdom in which the Netherlands and Indonesia were equal partners.
It became an advocate for the interests of the Papuas, Ambonese people and Dutch citizens for the Netherlands.
The two Protestant parties, ARP and CHU, were also divided on the issue of Indonesian independence, with the CHU cooperating in the Dutch cabinet and the ARP rejecting Indonesian independence.
The party's support peaked in the Hague were many former civil servants from the Dutch Indies and was weaker in the three Northern provinces.