By Debbie Robinson … Herman Bavinck (1854–1921) was a renowned Dutch theologian and one of the leading figures of the Neo-Calvinist movement of the late 1800s. Born in the small village of Hoogeveen in the Netherlands, Bavinck was raised in a devout Christian home, which shaped his passion for theology and the Reformed tradition. He studied at the Theological School in Kampen, where he developed a lifelong commitment to exploring the relationship between faith and life.