The Royal House of Orange Nassau

The Royal House of Orange Nassau

.
The Dutch Royal House is the House of Orange Nassau. It was founded by Prince William of Orange. In 1813, when the Netherlands became a kingdom, the House of Orange ascended the throne. Since 1890, the female line has ruled: Queen Emma, Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana and Queen Beatrix.
The present head of state, Queen Beatrix, was married to Prince Claus, Esquire of Amsberg (1926-2002).
They got three sons:  Willem Alexander (crown prince), Johan Friso and Constantijn.

nvph1312.jpg (133744 bytes)

Prince Willem of Oranje (1533 - 1584)
"Vader des Vaderlands" (Father of the Country)
Willem de Zwijger (William the Silent)
Willem of Oranje led the Dutch to freedom from Spanish rule in the 16th century.
Murdered in Delft in 1584.
(for an extended description and historic data, click here)

.

nvph98.jpg (123853 bytes)

nvph91.jpg (118421 bytes)

nvph96.jpg (122199 bytes)
King Willem I  (1772-1843) King Willem II  (1792-1849) King Willem III  (1817-1890)
King from 1815 to 1840 King from 1840 to 1849 King from 1849 to 1890

.

nvph269.jpg (141884 bytes)

nvph265.jpg (137814 bytes)

nvph266.jpg (142005 bytes)
Queen Emma  (1858-1935) Queen Wilhelmina  (1880-1962) Queen Juliana  (born 1909)
Regentes from 1890 to 1898 Queen from 1898 to 1948 Queen from 1948 to 1980

.

nvph1367.jpg (9968 bytes)
On january 7, 1937, Princess Juliana married Count Bernhard Von Lippe-Biesterveld (born in Jena, Germany, 1911). This stamp from 1987 commemorates their 50-years Wedding Anniversary.
Juliana and Bernhard got 4 children, all girls:
Beatrix (Soestdijk, jan 31, 1938), Irene (Soestdijk, aug 5, 1939), Margriet (Ottawa-Canada, jan 19, 1943) and Maria-Christina (Soestdijk, febr 18, 1947).
In 1980 Queen Juliana abdicated the throne in favour of her daughter Beatrix.

.

nvph1537.jpg (140095 bytes)
Queen Beatrix  (born in 1938)
Queen as from 1980

.

On march 10, 1966, Princess Beatrix married Claus von Amsberg (1926-2002).

nvph1466.jpg (39936 bytes)
These stamps appeared on the occasion of the 25-years Wedding Anniversary of Beatrix and Claus. The stamp at the left shows the bride and bridegroom on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, while the stamp at the right shows a picture of the royal couple at a horse-ride in the gardens of the Loo Palace.

.

Beatrix and Claus got 3 children, all boys: Willem-Alexander, Johan-Friso and Constantijn.
The stamps below with portaits of the young princes are based on pictures taken by Prince Claus.

nvph1021.jpg (95022 bytes)

nvph1020.jpg (107009 bytes)

nvph1022.jpg (97596 bytes)
Prince Johan Friso
(born 1968)		 Prince Willem Alexander
(born 1967)		 Prince Constantijn
(born 1969)

.

nvph2222.jpg (225462 bytes)

To commemorate the Royal Marriage
of Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima on february 2, 2002.

.

amalia.jpg (21127 bytes)
Princess Amalia, daughter of Willem-Alexander and Maxima, was born on december 7, 2003. The Dutch Postal Service came with the above block on December 16, 2003. The picture of the little princess, hardly 1 day old, was taken by the father prince Willem-Alexander on december 8, 2003.

.

bea.jpg (1261143 bytes)
(Click on the picture for an enlargement)

alex.jpg (1290687 bytes)
(Click on the picture for an enlargement)
9 december 2003
Queen Beatrix and her family
Foto's van Beatrix uit 1938, 1943, 1951, 1964.
Beatrix en Claus uit 1965, 1967, 1998.
Met de kinderen in 1975, 1999.
Beatrix stelt expositie samen in 2000.
(Klik op afbeelding voor een vergroting!		 23 juni 2004
Prince Willem-Alexander and his family
Verloving met Maxima: 30-03-2001
Huwelijk met Maxima: 02-02-2002
Balkonscène op 02-02-2002
Met prinses Amalia: 04-02-2004
Doop van Amalia: 12-06-2004

.
Home Our 12 Provinces Links