The union was founded in 1874 as the Public Assistant Teachers' Association, with 267 members in four cities.
Its founders were a group of teachers who were not senior enough to be permitted to join the existing trade association, the Dutch Education Society (NOV).
From 1878, it represented all teachers, and changed its name to the Dutch Public Educators' and Head Teachers' Association, but membership declined, until the union was only active in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
The union attempted to maintain its activities under the Nazi occupation in World War II, which led to heavy criticism from the NVV after the liberation.
In 1946, it merged with the NOV, to form the Dutch Teachers' Association.