If you haven’t been living under a rock, then you surely know that the Netherlands has a monarch. Following the abdication of Queen Beatrix on 30 April 2013, Willem-Alexander became the very first Dutch king in the last hundred years. Holland is one of the many European countries that didn’t abolish its monarchy. Not only is the royal family here to stay but also the people are glad that things are this way. It’s true that the Netherlands is a fairly young monarchy, yet it’s changing things, helping preserve the cultural and religious heritage of the nation. In Western Europe, the Dutch royal family is renowned, despite the fact that they try to maintain a low profile. In this article, we’ll present some interesting facts about the royal family of the Netherlands.
1. Willem-Alexander sewed his own
wetsuit
After graduating from elementary school, the King completed his
secondary education at Atlantic College, which is located in Wales.
Willem-Alexander spent 2 years in the rainy Wales, from where he
received his International Baccalaureate. Queen Beatrix, his
mother, dropped him off to school – a moment that was
immortalized by TV cameras. Atlantic College received an award for
innovation, so it’s a pretty good choice for anyone looking to
receive a good education. Travelling from the UK to the Netherlands
has never been easier. Now, you can make a Netherlands Schengen visa
appointment in London. The educational institution has a strong
mindset, placing emphasis on international tolerance. The king of
the Netherlands joined the lifeboat service. Willem-Alexander
remembers when he once has to sew his wetsuit. If only more men
knew how to sew.
2. Members of the royal family don’t
wear crowns
It may be a rule for some royals, yet not for the Dutch. As odd as
it may seem, the royal family of the Netherlands doesn’t have a crown. The crown that they had
was donated to a foundation, which they currently administer. The
ornamental headpiece was created in 1840 for king Willem II, being
made from silver plated with gold, who refused to be crowned. It’s
interesting to note that there are no precious stones in the crown.
Put simply, it doesn’t contain diamonds or pearls. Sadly, the
headdress isn’t put on public display. The last time when the crown
saw the day of light was in 2013.
3. The King’s birthdays is celebrated
in a peculiar way
For more than 100 years, the Dutch have been happily celebrating
the monarch’s birthday. Koninginnedag, as it’s commonly
referred to, takes place on the 27thof April. For the birthday
festivities, the people are allowed to sell whatever they want.
This practically means that the Netherlands transforms into a
market. Millions of people spill into the street and take part in
the celebration. If you happen to be in Holland for the King’s
birthday, you should too. You can eat like a king and, if that
weren’t enough, you can join a boat party. Whatever way you decide
to celebrate is just fine.
