The Netherlands is a Kingdom so let me introduce you to the Dutch Royal Family. The full name of the Dutch King is His Majesty Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand, King of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Esquire of Amsberg Born in Utrecht, on April 27, 1967. Since April 30, 2013 King of the Netherlands. He is the eldest child of Princess (the former Queen) Beatrix and Prince Claus.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima and the Royal Family
King Willem Alexander van Oranje Nassau is married to Queen Máxima, born Zorreguieta Cerruti.
Willem Alexander and Maxima have three daughters: Amalia, Alexia, and Ariane.
Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria, Princess of Orange, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the Crown Princess of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the eldest child of the marriage of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Máxima.
Born: December 7, 2003, in The Hague, The Netherlands
Princess Alexia Juliana Marcela Laurentien, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the second child of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Máxima. Alexia is second in line to the Dutch throne after her sister Crown Princess Amalia. After her follows her sister Princess Ariane.
Born: June 26, 2005, in The Hague, The Netherlands
Princess Ariane Wilhelmina Máxima Ines Princess of the Netherlands and, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the third child of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Princess Ariane is third in line to the throne.
Born: April 10th, 2007 in The Hague, The Netherlands
The King doesn’t rule the country. The country rules him. From a political point of view, Holland is ruled by an elected prime minister. The King is by constitution just a member of the government. His role is mainly to represent The Netherlands by visiting other countries. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of the Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands: Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten en special municipalities Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
Plan your visit to Holland on April 27th. Click on this link to King’s Day and look at the pictures. The parties in some cities start on the 26th and last all night long and continue the day after. Do not miss this day in Holland and have an unforgettable vacation.
So, each year on April 27th we celebrate our King’s birthday. Except when this day is on a Sunday then the King celebrates his birthday on the 26th. In fact, the 27th of April is the actual birthday of the Dutch King. Kings Day is celebrated throughout the nation. It is a national holiday. The dress code is orange so almost everyone dresses up in orange clothes and has a grand party. The feasts go on all night long with music, fairs, flea markets, and parties in streets and parks. The Dutch Royal Family goes on tour. Visiting Dutch towns and enjoying sometimes disputable entertainment like making an effort to break the national record of throwing a toilet bowl. Places to be on King’s day: Amsterdam, Utrecht or Den Haag. In Utrecht, the festivities even start on de the evening of the 26th. You must be with us on Kings Day! Do not miss the party.
The photos of the royal family © RVD: https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/foto-en-video/fotos-gezin-koning-willem-alexander
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima’s Residence
From 13 January 2019 Willem-Alexander lives with his family in the Palace Huis ten Bosch. The King’s family lives in the Wassenaar wing. The Hague wing is used, among other things, as a guest house. Huis ten Bosch Palace is owned by the state and made available to the King by law. The palace is located in the Haagse Bos in The Hague.
Before they move to Palace Huis ten Bosch, the royal family lived in Villa Eikenhorst. De Eikenhorst is a villa on the De Horsten estate in Wassenaar. From April 30, 2013, to January 13, 2019, it was the official residence of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his family. Willem Alexander lived there as crown prince since 2003.
The King is the head of state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In order to fulfill his function, the state has made Palace Noordeinde, Palace Huis ten Bosch, and the Royal Palace Amsterdam available to the Head of State. Noordeinde Palace in The Hague is the King’s working palace. Like the Royal Palace Amsterdam, this palace is used for official receptions and events.
Book a ticket to visit a Royal Palace.
Palace Noordeinde and the Royal Stable Department belonging to the palace complex can be visited a few days a year in the summer. The Royal Palace Amsterdam is open to the public most of the year. Current information about opening times can be found on the website of the Royal Palace Amsterdam.
Other members of the Royal Family
Princess Beatrix, mother of Willem-Alexander and former queen of Holland
Prins Friso (died on August 12th, 2013) and Princess Mabel
Prins Maurits, brother of Willem-Alexander, Princess Marilène
Prins Bernhard, Princess Annette, Prins Pieter-Christiaan, Princess Anita, Prins Floris, Princess Aimée,
Princess Irene and Princess Christina and their (by marriage) children and grandchildren.
Certain family events about members of the Royal Family have a special meaning not only private but also play a role in the progress of the monarchy. Events such as birth, baptism, birthdays, engagement, marriage, and death are often officially announced.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima in the Dutch Royal Family Tree
A little bit of history of the house Oranje Nassau: Willem the Silent was the main leader of the Dutch Revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs that set off the Eighty Year’s War (1568–1648) and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1581. Born into the House of Nassau, he became Prince of Orange in 1544 and is thereby the founder of the Orange-Nassau branch and the ancestor of the monarchy of the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, he is also known as Father of the Fatherland.
On YouTube, you will find the Dutch Royal family page with more interesting information.
1 Comment
I recently found out that the mother of my greatgrandma used to be a princess of the dutch royal family.Im curious to find out my distant relations!