Monarchie

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy: in other words, the monarchy is based on the constitution and the monarch's position is regulated by the constitution, certain Acts of Parliament and unwritten constitutional law.
The title to the throne is vested in the members of the family of the reigning monarch to the third degree of consanguinity. On the accession of a new monarch, some members of the royal house may lose their title to the throne and hence their membership of the royal house.

History

The origination of the House of Orange lies in the South of France. With the permission of emperor Frederik Barbarossa 1 was the county allowed to call itself kingdom. This meant that the prince of Orange was equivalent to other European monarchs.
In 1189 the house of Baux gets the ownership over the kingdom. The last Prince of Orange, Raimond V, only got one child. She married Jan III of Chalon. This is how the titel of Orange came in hands of Rene Chalon. He was the son of Claudia van Chalon and Hendrik van Nassau.
The emperor appointed Rene in 1540 the roll of provincial governor of hollan, Zeeland, Utrecht, France Comtée and Gelre. He maarie for the first time in 1540 with Anna van Lotharingen. Toghether they got one daughter, Maria, she died three weeks after birth. When Anna died, Rene got married with Elisabeth Geytenbeek. In expectiation for legal heirs he appointed his nephew, Willem van Nassau to his legal hein. He is well-known as William the Silent. The marriage of Rene Chalon staid childless. And when he died in 1544 Willem van Nassau inherited the titel Prince of Orange. Emperor Karel V determined that he was only allowed to exept the titel if he was raised catholic at court of the emperor at Brussels.
This man started the union of the Netherlands.

Members of the Dutch Royal Family

We would like to discuss the members of the Dutch Royal Family.
At first of course Queen Beatrix.

Beatrix

The Princess was born at Soestdijk Palace in Baarn.
In radio and television broadcasts on 28 June 1965, Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard announced the engagement of Princess Beatrix and the German diplomat Claus von Amsberg. The civil marriage ceremony was conducted by the Burgomaster of Amsterdam, Gijsbert van Hall, in Amsterdam City Hall on 10 March 1966. The marriage was blessed during a service in the Westerkerk. Claus von Amsberg received the title of Prince of the Netherlands and the designation Jonkheer van Amsberg. The royal couple took up residence in Drakensteyn Castle in Lage Vuursche, where the Princess had lived since 1963. Three sons were born to Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus: Prince Willem-Alexander in 1967, Prince Johan Friso in 1968 and Prince Constantijn in 1969.
From an early age, the Princess showed great concern for disabled people. This is why she and her husband Prince Claus put the sum of money the nation gave them as a wedding present to four national associations of parents of disabled children and part was earmarked for additional medical facilities on board the Henri Dunant, the Dutch Red Cross hospital ship.
On 30 April 1980, Queen Juliana signed the Act of Abdication and Princess Beatrix succeeded her as Queen of the Netherlands. At the official opening of parliament on the third Tuesday of September (Prinsjesdag), the Queen rides in the Golden Coach from Noordeinde Palace to the Binnenhof. A plenary session of both Houses of the States General is held in the Knights' Hall, during which the Queen delivers the Speech from the Throne in which the government announces its policy plans for the coming year.

Tasks
The Queen devotes much attention to important events in the Netherlands. She keeps herself informed of what is going on in society and every year she attends many openings, commemorations and other official events. Regular visits to the provinces provide the Queen with the opportunity to learn of the problems that affect people at local level. During specially organised working visits, she examines issues relating to such subjects as justice, agriculture, minorities, the environment and the interests of both employers and employees. The Queen also shows a keen interest in organisations in the field of health care and social welfare.
The Queen enjoys sculpting, horse-riding and sailing. Her favourite sailing boat is De Groene Draeck, her 18th birthday gift from the nation. She also enjoys playing tennis and skiing.
The Queen closely follows affairs of government and maintains regular contact with ministers. She meets the Prime Minister every Monday. Much of her work consists of studying and signing State documents. She regularly receives members of parliament, as well as other authorities on social issues. The Queen is closely involved in the formation of new governments. After a general election or the fall of a government, the Queen appoints one or more formateurs or informateurs who are instructed to form a new government

Claus
Prince Claus was born on 6 September 1926 as Claus von Amsberg. on the estate of his mother's family in Hitzacker, Dötzingen, in Lower Saxony. Immediately on his arrival in the Netherlands the Prince had devoted his energies to learning the Dutch language and familiarising himself with every aspect of Dutch society. During the early years of their marriage, Prince Claus and Princess Beatrix devoted much of their time to the upbringing of their children. They went on various visits, not only to Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles but also to many other countries and international organisations.
Prince Claus was interested in photography, reading and music. He was also keen on golf and tennis. Whenever possible, the royal couple spend their holidays at their farm in Tuscany; they went skiing every winter in Lech, Austria. His Royal Highness Prince Claus of the Netherlands passed away at the AMC university hospital in Amsterdam on 6 October 2002.

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WA
Prince Willem-Alexander was born on 27 April 1967, the first child of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus. As heir to the throne, he bears the title Prince of Orange.
On 30 March 2001, Prince Willem-Alexander became engaged to Miss Máxima Zorreguieta. The marriage took place in Amsterdam on 2 February 2002. The couple now live on the estate De Horsten in Wassenaar.
The Prince represents the Royal House on official occasions of all kinds. He regularly represents the Queen at international events or accompanies her on state visits. Prince Willem-Alexander attends and often addresses international conferences and symposiums on the subject of water management. Prince Willem-Alexander is keen on sports, both as a participant and as a spectator. He frequently attends major fixtures when the national teams are playing. The Prince himself is keen on tennis, running, skiing, sailing, golf, rock climbing, horse-riding, skating and diving.
In 1986, he completed the Elfstedentocht, the Frisian skating marathon, and in 1992 he ran the New York Marathon. Flying is another of the Prince's great interests. In the summer holidays of 1989, the Prince flew as a volunteer for the medical aid organisation African Medical Research and Education Foundation (AMREF) in Kenya and in 1991 he spent a month flying for the Kenya Wildlife Service.

Maxima
Princess Máxima was born Máxima Zorreguieta on 17 May 1971 in Buenos Aires (Argentina). She is the fourth daughter of Mr Jorge Horacio Zorreguieta and the eldest daughter of Mrs Maria del Carmen Cerruti de Zorreguieta. She has two brothers, one sister and three half-sisters. Since becoming engaged, Princess Máxima has been familiarising herself with Dutch society and the society of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, a programme that includes the study of Dutch language, history and constitutional law. Princess Máxima will become a member of the Council of State.

Prince Johan Friso was born on 25 September 1968 in Utrecht, the second child of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus.. On 30 June 2003, Prince Johan Friso announced his engagement to Ms. Mabel Wisse Smit. The Prince is keen on sports, both as a participant and as a spectator. His leisure pursuits include golf and diving.

Prince Constantijn was born in Utrecht on 11 October 1969, the third and youngest son of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus. On 16 December 2000, Prince Constantijn announced his engagement to Ms Laurentien Brinkhorst.
The couple's civil marriage on 17 Mai 2001 was followed two days later by the church ceremony. Princess Laurentien and Prince Constantijn now have a daughter, Eloise. She was born in The Hague on 8 June 2002.
The family lives in London. Prince Constantijn is a keen sportsman. He enjoys football, tennis, golf and skiing. His other hobbies include drawing, cooking and reading.

Other members of the Dutch Royal Family are: Princess Juliana, Prince Bernard.
Princess Margriet, Mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven, Prince Mauritz, Princess Marilene, Prince Bernard Jr., Princess Annette, Prince Pieter Christiaan, Prince Floris.

Koninginnedag
The Queen's official birthday (Koninginnedag) is a national holiday, which is celebrated by street parties and other events.
The Queen and other members of the royal family visit the festivities in one or perhaps two different places each year. The royal visits are always broadcast live on television.
30 April.
During the reigns of Queen Wilhelmina and Queen Juliana, it was the custom to celebrate Koninginnedag on the Queen's birthday - 31 August and 30 April respectively. On the day of her investiture, 30 April 1980, Queen Beatrix stated that she wished to continue celebrating it on 30 April, as a mark of respect for her mother, Queen Juliana.

The Wilhelmus
The Wilhelmus has been the official Dutch national anthem since 10 May 1932, when the Cabinet decided that it was to be played on all official occasions.

Meaning
We think that the queen is very important for the country. Not in an official way, but symbolic. She doesn’t have a very big role in politics. Exctually she serves a ceremonial purpose. We think that the Royal House is a symbol for Holland. A feeling of nationalism in a good way. It’s not only the Queen, but also the Queen’s birthday and other events.
What you think about it??