ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti nˈaɪn, vˈæn hˈaʊʔn̩ wʌz fˈɜːst ᵻlˈɛktᵻd tə ðə hˈaʊs ʌv ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntətˌɪvz fɚðɪ ᵻlˈɛktɚɹəl dˈɪstɹɪkt ɡɹˈoʊnɪndʒən.
In 1869, van Houten was first elected to the House of Representatives for the electoral district Groningen.