This church body arose in 1944 out of the so-called Liberation (Vrijmaking) from the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, when many pastors and members refused to go along with the General Synod's demand to hold to "presumed regeneration of infants" at their baptism.

Local congregations were ruled by a church council or consistory, made up of the pastor(s) and the elders.

All congregations also had a number of deacons who assisted the church council with more practical matters.

The Lord's Supper was typically "closed", meaning that only professing members were permitted to participate, although many congregations would allow guests to participate if prior notice (through the use of so-called communion letters [avondmaalsbriefjes]) or satisfactory proof of a living faith was given.

By the early 20th century, disputes were starting to arise within this denomination, especially about Abraham Kuyper's view of the covenant.

These came to a head during World War II, when the general synod ruled in favour of Kuyper's view that essentially questioned the inclusion of children of believers into the covenant.

A number of theologians and pastors disagreed with this ruling, arguing that it contradicted the plain facts of Scripture, and attempted to appeal the decision.

The protesters also objected that the general synod was abusing its authority by remaining functional for longer than the three years allowed under the rules of the Church Order.

In 1944, when a number of protesting pastors and theologians were defrocked by the general synod, a large number of local congregations separated from the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, led by Klaas Schilder among others, to form their own denomination, an event referred to as the Liberation (Vrijmaking).

This view led in part to the schism of 1967, when a group that formed the Netherlands Reformed Churches broke away.

The "only true Church" movement soon waned in influence, though it remained in existence until the start of the 21st century.

This movement objected to what it saw as liberalising tendencies within the denomination, in particular to the introduction of hymns (Reformanda approves only the Psalter) and the synod's decisions regarding the Fourth Commandment (keeping of the Sabbath) and remarriage after divorce.

Reformanda alleged that in these areas the Liberated churches were violating Scripture and the movement urged local congregations to refuse to confirm the synod's Acts.

In the 2006 elections this party gained 6 seats in parliament as well as a pivotal role in the resulting coalition government.

[12] These private schools enjoyed special protection by Royal Decree, which means that they could not be forced to accept pupils from backgrounds that were incompatible with their Reformed views.

[18] Their relationships with the Canadian Reformed Churches and Free Reformed Churches of Australia have been particularly strong in the past, seeing as these federations were founded shortly after World War II by Dutch immigrants who had come out of the Liberation.