April 30 – Official birthday of HRH Queen Beatrix
Beatrix, by the Grace of God Queen of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld.
The following titles formerly borne by the princes of Orange. These being dormant titles, they are retained in the masculine form.
Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen
Count of Katzenelnbogen (now in Germany), Vianden, Diez (both now in Luxembourg), Spiegelberg (now in Germany), Buren, Leerdam, and Culemborg
Viscount of Antwerp (now in Belgium)
Baron of Breda, Diez (now in Luxembourg), , Beilstein (now in Germany), the town of Grave and the lands of Cuijk, IJsselstein, Cranendonk, Eindhoven, Liesveld, Herstal (now in Germany), Warneton (now in Belgium), Arlay and Nozeroy (both now in France)
Hereditary Lord and Seigneur of Ameland
Lord of Besançon (now in France), Borculo, Bredevoort, Bütgenbach (now in Germany), Clundert, Daasburg, Geertruidenberg, Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe, ‘t Loo, Lichtenvoorde, Montfoort, Naaldwijk, Niervaart, Polanen, Steenbergen, Sint-Maartensdijk, Sankt Vith, Turnhout (both now in Belgium), Soest, Ter Eem, Willemstad, and Zevenbergen.
Under the Constitution of the Netherlands, Princess Beatrix was entitled to assume the royal prerogative at any time after her 18th birthday on 31 January 1956.
She did so in fact when Queen Juliana abdicated on her 71st birthday, 30 April 1980. Princess Beatrix succeeded her mother as Queen of the Netherlands. Her investiture took place at a special plenary session of both houses of parliament in the New Church in Amsterdam.
On that day, she stated that she wished to continue celebrating the Queen’s official birthday on 30 April, as a mark of respect for her mother.
The links between the House of Nassau and the Netherlands date back to 1403, when Count Engelbrecht I of Nassau married Johanna van Polanen, the lady of Breda.
As they acquired more and more land, the Breda branch of the family soon entered the ranks of the highest nobility. Over time they were entrusted with ever more important offices by the Dukes of Burgundy and then the members of the House of Habsburg, who ruled much of the Low Countries.
Count Hendrik III of Nassau (1483-1538), for example, held high civil and military offices and was involved in the education of the future Emperor Charles V. He married the Burgundian noblewoman Claudia de Chalon, and their son René inherited the sovereign principality of Orange from his uncle Philibert de Chalon.
When René died childless in 1544, he left his estates to his German cousin William of Nassau (1533-1584), who, as Prince William I, founded the House of Orange-Nassau.
More information about the Dutch Royal House or the lineage of the House of Nassau
If you didn’t know it by now… I am a Royalist
I watched Queen last night….different queen, but still royalty. I think that the monarchy should have more power than they do…they seem less concerned with politics and care more about the people
The Dutch royals are more closer to the people then the British. Princes and princesses who live with their kids in normal streets and work in normal jobs, you’ll find them in the Netherlands.
PS
As a Brit I must say I don’t see much point in Royalty. Constitutionally, their role is purely decorative and exists to stabilise the status quo and attract tourist dollars, no doubt. On the other hand one could argue that they contribute towards political and social stabilty. It’s difficult to argue rationally but on balance I’m glad (inspite of the soap opera they have become) that the British Royal family still exists, at least whilst Elizabeth reigns. And I rather like that they don’t live on the next street: where is the mystique and the glamour in that?
Those are the minor royals, the ones that are royal family but are not part of the Royal House. Just like prince and princess Michael of Kent are part of the royal family but are not part of the Royal House. [only they live on an estate (no pun intended)].
PS
If I didn’t realize this before… you are a Royalist!
I don’t care to pay my € 3 per annum for one of our best export products
PS