Dutch Royalty

The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy. The country's current ruler, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, who acceded to the throne in 1980 and celebrated her 25-year jubilee in 2005, lives and works in The Hague.

Noordeinde Palace serves as the Queen's working quarters, where each week she receives in audience the heads of foreign diplomatic missions to the Netherlands, when they come to present their letters of credence (geloofsbrieven) or take their leave. Queen Beatrix lives in Huis ten Bosch Palace (literally Home in the Forest), located in the Haagse Bos.

Each year on the third Tuesday in September, the Queen reads the Speech from the Throne in the Ridderzaal (Knight’s Hall) in the Binnenhof in The Hague, in the presence of both the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. This annual speech provides an overview of the government policy for the coming year. This annual event, known as Prinsjesdag (Prince’s Day), is celebrated with great pomp and circumstance with the queen travelling from Noordeinde Palace to the Ridderzaal under ceremonial escort in a special golden coach drawn by eight horses.

• History of the Dutch Royal Family
  The monarchy stems from 1815 when, after the Napoleonic period, the Kingdom of the Netherlands was established and the House of Orange-Nassau became the reigning dynasty.
• A Royal City
  Stroll through the heart of The Hague’s old city centre you’ll feel something regal in the air.
  
• Dutch Royal Successors
  After the rule of King William I, William II and William III in the 19th century, Queen Wilhelmina, grandmother of Queen Beatrix, became the first woman to ascend the throne in 1898.
  

Queen Beatrix's eldest son, Prince Willem-Alexander – the Prince of Orange – will succeed her. While the Queen's actual birthday is on 31 January, it is the birthday of her mother, Queen Juliana, which is celebrated on 30 April on Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag).

More information: The Dutch Royal House.