Netherlands Royal Family
Who are the Royal Family of the Netherlands
You can’t talk about the Netherlands without talking about the Royal Family. The monarchy has been around since 1815 and is a point of fascination for many visitors. The current king, Willem-Alexander has been the Dutch Head of State for over eight years now and first took the throne in 2013.
His wife, Queen Maxima, is also a very active member of the monarchy and can be seen taking part in many official occasions. She also has her own duties. The royal family is adored by the Dutch people and they even celebrate King Willem-Alexander’s birthday as a major event on April 27.
History of the Royal Family in the Netherlands
The very first incarnation of the Royal Family also called the Royal Family began back in the 13th century. However, it wasn’t until William I of Orange who reigned between 1533 and 1584 that the monarchy became popular. He was known as the “William the Silent’.
The appreciation for the Royal family came from his efforts to free the country from Spanish rule. The war was won and the House of Orange to this day is still respected by the citizens of the country. This bond was strengthened by the Royal Family’s steadfast resolve during other times of crisis like WWII.
The colour of Orange in the Netherlands
The colour orange is wildly popular in the Netherlands. It is somewhat of their national colour and even the football team proudly wears it into the World Cup Finals. In fact, the team is known for its distinct orange jerseys, which the players are very proud of.
The obsession with the colour actually comes from the name Orange which was given to a French Prince who ruled a town called Orange in the South of France. The colour was adopted by the Royal family of the Netherlands. It is used as a symbol of unity.
Residences of the Royal Family in the Netherlands
Many visitors hope to catch a glimpse of how the Royal family in the Netherlands live. Thankfully this is very much a possibility. King Willem-Alexander has two residences. One is called The Noordeinde Palace and is located in The Hague.
The other residence is the Villa Eikenhorst and this is in Wassenaar. Sometimes it is possible to visit these residences. This can be one of your stops along the way as there are many exciting places to visit in the Netherlands. You can check out our Netherlands Tourism page to learn more about what you can do.
