How did pillarization shape Dutch political and social life?

Pillarization, or verzuiling, was a defining feature of Dutch society and politics for much of the 20th century, lasting until the 1960s. It emerged from 19th-century ideological struggles between Catholics, Calvinists, socialists, and liberals, particularly regarding the schoolstrijd (school conflict) over state support for private versus public education.123

This system organized the country into self-contained "pillars," or ideological worlds, where individuals lived largely separate lives within the Dutch state. While this structure kept ordinary citizens ideologically separated to a greater degree than in most other Western nations, it also facilitated a stable political environment known as the "politics of accommodation". Because the leaders of these distinct pillars cooperated effectively and the right of each group to exist was mutually respected, public life generally functioned smoothly.2314

The system received official confirmation in the Pacification of 1917. However, by the 1960s, the system began to disintegrate due to rapid secularization and the emergence of new political movements, eventually leading to the formation of broader coalitions like the Christian Democratic Appeal.14