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The House of Orange-Nassau

The House of Orange-Nassau is the Dutch royal house. Its name joins two places: Orange, in southern France, and Nassau, in Germany [1]. Here is its story, from the Dutch Revolt to King Willem-Alexander.

Origins: Orange and Nassau

The dynasty was formed through the marriage of Henry III of Nassau and Claudia of Châlon-Orange [1]. Its founder is William the Silent, who became Prince of Orange in 1544 [1]. He led the revolt of the Netherlands against Spain [1].

Stadtholders of the Dutch Republic

Several members of the house served as stadtholders ("governors") of the Dutch Republic during the Eighty Years' War and after [1]. Frederick Henry, William the Silent's youngest son, married Amalia van Solms-Braunfels, and their daughters married into other leading houses, including the Hohenzollerns [1]. In 1650, Stadtholder William II died of smallpox, leaving only a posthumous son, the future William III of England [1].

1815: A Kingdom

After a long period as a republic, the Netherlands became a monarchy under the House of Orange-Nassau in 1815 [1]. On 15 March 1815, with the support of the powers at the Congress of Vienna, William proclaimed himself King William I. He was also made Grand Duke of Luxembourg [1].

The Dutch Constitution still ties the throne to him. Article 24 states that the monarchy is held hereditarily by "the legitimate successors of King William I, Prince of Orange-Nassau" [3]. Article 25 provides that the eldest child takes precedence, with no distinction of sex [3].

Three Queens in a Row

King William III died in 1890 without a surviving son. His daughter Wilhelmina inherited the Dutch throne, while Luxembourg passed to another branch of the Nassau family [1][4]. The house's future was uncertain until the birth of Princess Juliana in 1909 [1]. The House of Orange-Nassau became extinct in the male line on 28 November 1962, with the death of Wilhelmina. It continues through the female line [1].

Juliana's daughter Beatrix married the German diplomat Claus von Amsberg in 1966, a controversial choice at the time; Claus later became very popular [1]. On 30 April 1980, Queen Juliana abdicated in favour of Beatrix [1].

King Willem-Alexander

On 30 April 2013, King Willem-Alexander succeeded his mother as monarch [2]. He is married to Queen Máxima. The royal couple have three daughters: Princess Catharina-Amalia, the Princess of Orange, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane [2]. As the eldest child, Catharina-Amalia is heir to the throne [2][3].

How Succession Works Today

When a Dutch monarch dies or abdicates, the eldest child succeeds. If the eldest child has died but left legitimate children, the oldest of them succeeds instead [6]. If the monarch has no children or grandchildren, the throne passes to descendants of a parent or grandparent, but only within the third degree of consanguinity [6]. For that reason, when Willem-Alexander became King, the two oldest sons of his aunt Princess Margriet lost their right to succeed [6]. If no heir can be found within the House of Orange-Nassau, a successor may be appointed by Act of Parliament, passed by both Houses in joint session [6].

The Royal Family website’s line of succession runs: the Princess of Orange, then Princess Alexia, then Princess Ariane. After them come Prince Constantijn and his children, Countess Eloïse, Count Claus-Casimir and Countess Leonore. The last in line is Princess Margriet [6].

Royal House and Royal Family

Dutch law separates the Royal House from the wider royal family [5]. Under the Membership of the Royal House Act, the Royal House comprises the monarch, the former monarch, those legitimate descendants of King Willem I who are related to the monarch in the first or second degree and are eligible to succeed, and their spouses [5]. It currently has 10 members, including Princess Beatrix, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien. Princess Margriet and Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven keep their membership under the former rules [5].

Members lose their place in the Royal House if they lose Dutch nationality, are removed by royal decree, or marry without the consent of Parliament [5]. The court or house site lists Princess Irene, Princess Christina, Prince Friso, Prince Pieter-Christiaan and Prince Floris as having lost membership in this way [5].

Sworn In, Not Crowned

Dutch monarchs are not crowned. They are sworn in and invested at a public joint session of both Houses of Parliament in the capital, Amsterdam [7]. The ceremony was first held in 1814, when the future King Willem I was sworn in as sovereign prince, and has taken place in the Nieuwe Kerk ever since. It took its present form at the investiture of King Willem II in 1840 [7]. Although it is held in a church, the ceremony is purely constitutional, not religious. The crown is simply displayed, with the other regalia, on a credence table [7]. Willem II commissioned the regalia (crown, sceptre, orb, sword of state and national standard) in 1840 [7]. Since 1932 the national anthem has been the "Wilhelmus van Nassouwe" [8].

Key Dates

In the historical Almanach de Gotha

• The House of Orange-Nassau in the historical Almanach de Gotha, 1871–1923

Licence: contains material adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). This article is released under the same licence. Primary and institutional sources are summarised or briefly quoted.