The Dutch Royal Family

Holland is a fairly young monarchy. The Kingdom of the Netherlands was established in 1815, and King William I was its first ruler. The first king of Holland was from the House of Orange-Nassau. The origin of Holland’s motto, ‘Je maintiendrai (“I will maintain”)’, the colors of the flag and the national color orange may all be found in the House of Orange-Nassau. Queen Beatrix has been the reigning monarch for over 30 years. The intended heir to the throne, the Prince of Orange, is her oldest son, Willem-Alexander. The monarch has limited power; the Queen has immunity, but the real power lies with the ministers. The monarch is neutral and does not make pronouncements about political topics.

Blogs:

• A walk through the royal city of The Hague, Part 1

  Ulrike Grafberger, Thursday, April 11, 2013

  Binnenhof (Inner Court), Ridderzaal (Knights’ Hall) and the Historical Museum of The Hague provide a good insight into the royal history of The Hague.

• A walk through the royal city of The Hague, Part 2

  Ulrike Grafberger, Thursday, April 11, 2013

  Explore the Lange Voorhout, the most beautiful place in Holland, and the Hofkwartier with its royal palace.

Visit the Dutch Royal Castles