Royal Family of The Netherlands

The Royal family of Orange reigning now in the Netherlands, takes its roots in the 13th century, with its importance growing in the 15th and 16th century when William I of Orange (1533-1584; also known as "William the Silent" and "Father of the Fatherland") led the resistance against the Spanish rule. After the prolonged war, The Netherlands remained a proud of its independence republic, but the House of Orange maintained a leading role in the country’s political life. It is only after a disturbing period of the French Revolution and following it Napoleonic wars, that the constitutional monarchy has been introduced in the Netherlands. Very recent tradition of the WWII and the resistance against the German occupation again renewed the strong bond between Dutch patriotism and the Oranje Family.

A Colour of Orange
The name Orange takes its roots from the French Princedom of Orange (connected with existing until today town in the South of France – Orange). The title is a result of the marriage between Hendrik III of Nassau-Breda and Claudia of Châlon-Orange from French Burgundy (1515). This is how the dynasty had been established, because their son adopted the title of Orange-Nassau. Today orange is the traditional color of the Dutch monarchy as well as the beloved color of the whole country. You may well see it observing the supporters of the Dutch football team.

The House of Orange Today
Queen Beatrix is the nominal head of state in the Netherlands. Several existing laws of the present political system in the Netherlands and the Queen’s role have been established by the parliament.
Queen Beatrix has been married to a German born Prince Claus (who died after prolonged illness in 2002) and has three sons. The oldest, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, is the first heir to the throne (b.1967), his brothers are Johan Friso (b.1968) and Constantijn (b.1969).
Willem Alexander married in 2002 Argentinean born Maxima. Wileem-Alexander and Maxima have two daughters - Amalia and Alexia.

The Royal residences
The Queen uses two places in The Hague - Noordeinde Palace and Huis ten Bosch Palace, as well as the Royal Palace on the Dam square in Amsterdam. These palaces are owned by the Dutch State. Noordiende Palace in the center of town is a place where Queen’s offices are located, while Huis ten Bosch is her residence. The palace on the Dam square in Amsterdam has largely a ceremonial role. It is here that the official guests are received by the Queen. Every now and then, it is possible to visit this palace.

Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima live in Villa Eikenhorst. Their office is located at Noordeinde 66 in The Hague, just next to the Noordeinde Palace in the very center of town.
An interesting palace, which serves today as the museum is Het Loo House in Apeldoorn. It is here, that a relatively modest residence of the Queen's younger sister Princess Margriet and her husband, Pieter van Vollenhoven is located on the grounds of the previous Royal residence. The Het Loo Palace and its beautiful park are today open to the public. As Princess Margriet has been born in 1943, when because of the German occupation of the Netherlands during the WWII the Royal Family has been on exile in the Canada, the Ottawa Civic Hospital where Queen Juliana gave birth has been declared temporarily a Dutch territory, not to make a newborn child a British subject.

Dutch people have many good sentiments about their Royals. Every year on April 30 a festive, carnival like Queen's Day (Dutch: Koninginnedag) is celebrated all over the country. If the date of May 30 falls on Sunday, the Queen’s day is celebrated a day earlier - on Saturday 29th.

• An official website about the Dutch Royal House maintained by the Netherlands Government Information Service: www.koninklijkhuis.nl