Dutch royal family news

[grimnir]

Various news about the Dutch German royal family

Queen's day 2011, general insanity, preliminary estimation of the costs and of the nuisances for the citizens:

• From Thursday morning onwards (Queen's day was on a Saturday) no cars, scooters, or other motordriven vehicles allowed into security ring 1, 2 and 3. Not in locked garages, nowhere. Both villages are divided into 4 security rings.
  
• Saturday morning 5 o'clock onwards: no vehicles at all allowed into security ring 1, 2 and 3. This includes electric wheelchairs and no doubt children's tricycles.
  
• Additional security cameras have been up and running since 14 April.
  
• Total ban on any "loose" objects like flower boxes, wheeliebins, dustbins, garbage bags, garden furniture etc, in ring 1,2 and 3.
  
• Disguises like balaclavas, shawls, helmets etc. are strictly forbidden. This includes possesion of said means to disguise.
  
• Consumption of alcohol is strictly forbidden for as long as the queen is present.
  
• Ring 1 and 2 will only be accessible for people with a ticket and a means of identification. They have been screened by the police. Same for all the people living along the route the queen will travel.

An army of 1300 additional policemen will be present. The extra security will cost at least 700,000 euro (988,000 USD), not including salaries (and surcharges for working on a national holiday).

It may look like peanuts, but keep in mind this is a tiny country.

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Prince Bernhard Jr. doesn't seem to have enough work. He will become "non-executive director" (a director without specific tasks) with Antonov plc., a company in gearboxes. Naturally, this being the DRF, no further specifics are given, but his colleagues made 22,000 to 44,000 euro (31,000 - 62,000 USD) last year. Not including options packages, which could mean another 64,000 euro (91,000 USD). The "job" will involve 10 (ten!) working days in a year, which makes for 2,200 - 4,400 euros (3,100 - 6,200 USD) per day not counting the options. No mention is being made about what happens to his current job. With this humongous extra workload, no doubt he will keep that one too.

[rearden]

Max is going to have a bday party with royalty, maybe Charlene and Albert will go? Although I don't remember them attending WA's party.

[emmeline]

^oohh let's hope Conlene will go! I want to see that smirk once again in action!

[grimnir]

More cleaning, more articles:

Reward Prince Maurits met with incomprehension by House of Representatives
Hoedeman January - 29/01/1910, 00:00

AMSTERDAM A large majority of the parliament wants an explanation from Minister Eurlings (Traffic) on the two tons Prince Maurits is allowed to declare as chairman of the Formula E-Team ....

Maurice may be put to work two days a week up to 156 thousand euros and for declaring his office costs 48 000 euros. "Many people do not understand this, " said Labour MP Timmer. It fits its part in the discussion about external forces that hired extreme amounts.

"Everything around Orange and money is sensitive, " said D66 leader Pechtold, "because Balkenende has waited so long frank about costs of the Royal Family."

Incomprehensible SP MP Van Raak that shows that the prince in two days earns more than the minister in a week. "He should not exceed two fifths of a ministerial salary merit." A minister, according to the SP to set the benchmark in the public sector more than a ministerial salary is earned. "This is standard charge."

For Van Ghent Green is impossible that the prince above the Balkenende norm of 181 000 euro is. "Why is so uurbedrag secrecy about the prince?" She likes that many royals in their own living, but not this way.

"I suppose that two tons the amount by which the entire campaign is funded for electric cars?" asked VVD MP Van Beek himself. "Not? Then comes trouble. "

For Prince Maurice is that he earns his living. Maxima, which for 2010 has a personal allowance of 248 thousand euros, was a member of the committee PaVEM 42 000 euros over three years. The money she collapsed for a good cause.

Original article (in Dutch) here: www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/archief/article/detail/977480/2010/01/29/Beloning-prins-Maurits-stuit-op-onbegrip-Kamer.dhtml

[grimnir]

More fuss about WaxMax modest holiday home in Mozambique. The third part didn't work online but in return there's an update:

The committee "On-the-sly" abused for Orange issue?
Sebastiaan Timmermans - 08.06.1911, 11:24
The Courtyard. © ANP.

Exciting discussions about secret things from the outside world should be hidden. That is the image that the committee On-the-sly recalls. What is the secret committee and how the issues discussed there?

* Aerial view of the development on the peninsula Machangulo Mozambique, where Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima, a villa built. © ANP.
Aerial view of the development on the peninsula Machangulo Mozambique, where Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima, a villa built. © ANP.

The committee, officially the Committee on the Intelligence and Security is called, was founded in 1952 on the initiative of the then leader of the Labour Party Jaap Burger. This was a place where members of the secret government business could share with the leaders of the major parties. The information obtained should then be kept secret.

"That committee is the ins and outs of the Dutch secret service consultation," says political reporter for the Times Remco Meijer. "The group leaders to inform, there is a form of parliamentary control. It is about state secrets that do not meet the great bell may be hung, but where politics should be informed about it. "

Since 2004, all party leaders have access to this committee. The SP did not initially participate. Only in 2009 joined the lot under the motto: "If you do not play the secret committee, there is nothing to check."

Payment of oranges
Today, the Times revealed last year that Prime Minister Balkenende 'secretly took "about a payment of oranges. The Prime Minister informed the Lower House by secret commissions on the payment of Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima in a tax haven. It was money that was transferred to a broker to purchase their controversial holiday in Mozambique. In this way the prime minister wanted this "private matter" not the big clock hanging.

Meijer: Group Chairmen and their party members should not talk about what happens behind the closed doors of secret commissions is discussed. This only works if the system keeps clean and just talking about state secrets. In this case it is not. The prime minister can inform the House on Mozambique by a letter. Now it has the appearance that the parliament was made silenced. That is why people from the school collapsed. Which is normally very little leaking out. "

Information under the table to keep
The SP reacted indignantly today. "There is not designed for that committee," said Socialist Party MP Ronald van Raak. "This is for secrets, and I can not imagine that this state secret. It seems that the commission has been secretly used to keep information under the table. " Touch of Rutte will submit written questions about the case.

In 2003, Labour leader Wouter Bos away from the committee to a similar issue. He then protested against the fact that the Balkenende informed the committee about the later Princess Mabel, who became friends with top criminal Klaas Bruinsma.

Original here:
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/3598/Kabinet-Rutte/article/detail/2443028/2011/06/08/Werd-de-commissie-stiekem-misbruikt-voor-de-Oranje-kwestie.dhtml

Commotion about payment Oranges in tax haven

Jan Hoedeman, Remco Meijer - 08/06/1911, 1:03

vk UPDATE Behind the scenes last year a political outcry over payment of Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima in a tax haven.
MPs were, according to various sources in The Hague was outraged that the outgoing prime minister Balkenende and Minister Hirsch Ballin payment of the prince and princess for the construction of their villa in Mozambique, in the so-secret committee had reported.

Shut Duty
The members of this committee on the Intelligence and Security Services - the leaders of all political parties - had an oath of secrecy. So did the Prime Minister and the information about the payment out of the political and public debate about the villa in Machangulo.

The Government Information Service (RVD) confirms its request that Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima their holiday villa in Mozambique have bought bills in "different countries", including the tax haven of Jersey.

The prince and princess, according to the RVD, by the way they pay no tax or financial benefits gained. They comply with all international laws and regulations kept, and all taxes paid.

Ministerial responsibility
Prime Minister Mark Rutte is for the actions of the few ministerial responsibility, said the RVD in a written statement to the newspaper. "The government regrets that - according to the Times - information from the consultation with the Commission on the Intelligence and Security has come out," let Rutte know via the RVD.

Payment in Jersey, a Channel Island tax benefits, only covered the fee for the broker, the RVD. The department refused to name the other countries where the royal couple made any payments, but stresses that no tax havens.

The party leaders gave the impression that the entire purchase amount to a tax haven was gone. They criticized the tax morale of Orange and their legitimacy of the signature shortcuts on tax 'wrong type'. They have been very indignant one year, especially about their duty of confidentiality. The prince has always said his purchase was also seen as a form of development assistance to Mozambique.

Brokerage
Only now the government says by the mouth of the RVD that the payment was limited to Jersey. There 'brokerage services are performed by someone who is not commissioned by the prince and princess acted. Subject has a percentage of the amount that was involved in the sale of construction land rights is calculated as brokerage. At the request of the claimant, the amount is transferred to its bank account at HSBC in Jersey, "said RVD.

RVD says that the royal couple has done nothing inappropriate being. That a broker was paid to whom the prince and princess were no client, according to the RVD was part of the agreements surrounding the purchase of the villa are made.

Original here: www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/2442723/2011/06/08/Commotie-over-betaling-Oranjes-in-belastingparadijs.dhtml


And an update next day. And now we're all friends again like nothing happened and it will be business as usual. One day of fuss, surprise and disapproval and nothing ever changes.

Chamber sets Rutte ultimatum on Oranges' Villa
Remco Meijer - 06.09.1911, 12:44
Prime Minister Mark Rutte © anp

Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD), the House appearance for next Thursday, 12:01 a.m. write about the holiday villa of Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima in Mozambique. That the Committee for Internal Affairs decided this morning.

* Princess Máxima and Prince Willem-Alexander
Princess Maxima and Prince Willem-Alexander © anp
*

"I fell off my chair when I read in the newspaper Wednesday."

D66 MP Gerard Schouw

Following is coverage in the Times, Wednesday, about three meetings organized by the Intelligence and Security last year, held on the royal house Machangulo. These so-called "secret commissions" are the cash flows around the villa has been discussed. In that committee, the group leaders are members, is silence. This is because state secrets could be mentioned. Then Prime Minister Balkenende and Minister Hirsch Ballin in the commission secretly declared that the royal couple bills paid in "different countries". One of them, for the commission of the broker was paid in the tax haven of Jersey.

Indignation
The Court is outraged that while a political debate raged about the villa, additional information was provided in a secret commission. On the initiative of parliamentarian Ineke van Gent (Green), backed by the full committee, in his letter to Rutte therefore three questions. In which countries the prince which accounts for the purchase and construction of the villa rights paid? Why is the information, and then only in part, shared with the commission secretly and not made public? What about selling the house, whose youth was already in November 2009 has been waived?

Dangerous State
MP Gerard Schouw (D66) said Thursday in committee: "I fell off my chair when I read in the newspaper Wednesday." The prime minister was also requested by the committee's written questions that SP MP Ronald van Raak Wednesday suggested, along with the letter to answer. Touch of Rutte wants to ensure that the committee secretly as "dumping ground for unwelcome information 'is used. He wants a vision of the Prime Minister on the question of when information is classified or is dangerous or not. The committee supports this objective.

Original here:
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/2443621/2011/06/09/Kamer-stelt-Rutte-ultimatum-over-villa-Oranjes.dhtml

[grimnir]

Update on the committee On-the-sly: the typical Dutch solution: Now PM Rutte won't report the finances of DRF to the committee at all! Another sector of the DRF that can run amok unchecked.

Oranges not handled in committee On-the-sly
Reuters / Editorial - 16/06/11, 11:04
The government will not collect information on private payments from members of the royal family via the committee On-the-sly. Suggests that Prime Minister Mark Rutte in response to parliamentary questions about payments made by Prince Willem-Alexander had made his home in Mozambique. Private payments that remain private, says Rutte.
Rutte says that the committee in such situations in a awkward position "is detected and that he wants to avoid. Therefore, information about private payments from members of the royal family privately, unless a clear public interest is served with the order to report to the House. But in that case, all open to the entire House and not only in confidence to the group chairmen.

SP questions
Reason for Rutte's letter were questions from the SP reports that Presidents have found it annoying that they got the information in the confidential discussions of the commission secretly. They can then go after talk with anyone about it and can not in parliamentary debates on the agenda.

The information about the private payment to a broker at one of the Channel Islands at the end of 2009 issued by then-Interior Minister Guusje ter Horst. After the Labour Party in February 2010 the government had stepped out, also submitted Ter Horst successor Ernst Hirsch Ballin has with the committee on private payments.

Public interest
According Rutte payments were private and the public interest was not hit. Prince Willem-Alexander had himself reported the transfer time. It was for real estate brokerage services, not on behalf of Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima were performed. Other payments around the house in Mozambique were not using a tax haven.

Willem-Alexander and Máxima did not 'by those means of payment gain any benifits or avoided taxes, "writes Rutte in his letter to the House. They have also complied with all national and international laws and regulations and all taxes paid, Rutte said.

Original here: www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/2445678/2011/06/16/Oranjes-niet-meer-behandeld-in-commissie-stiekem.dhtml
Sheez, google should learn better Dutch, even I can see that the translation could be better.

[countess]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17077390

Dutch Prince Johan Friso is in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by an avalanche in the Austrian resort of Lech, say officials.

Officials said the prince, 43, was buried under the snow for about 15 minutes before being rescued.

He was resuscitated at the scene and taken to hospital in Innsbruck, where officials said he was stable but his condition was "still life-threatening".

Prince Friso is the second son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
the prince had been skiing with a small group off the marked pistes when the avalanche hit shortly after midday local time. No-one else was injured,

[donna]

I hope he recovers well.

[MadameConcorde]

This is terribly sad.

The Prince is in a coma and may never regain consciousness.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17153623

What bothers me is that he is not in line for the throne since marrying in 2004 without the government's permission.

This is so terribly backwards - really from another age.

Miracles do happen. I hope he will come out of his coma with little (or no) consequences.

[countess]

such sad news, i'm so sorry for his young family and of course his family and friend

The statement was as follows

Prince Friso was brought to Innsbruck university hospital by rescue helicopter at about 14:00 on 17 February, after being buried by an avalanche in Lech. He was covered for approximately 25 minutes. At the hospital, after receiving initial treatment in the reanimation unit, he was taken straight to the intensive care trauma unit. This unit specialises in treating the most seriously injured avalanche patients with the utmost medical and technical expertise. The unit's head is Dr Wolfgang Koller.


Our unit was notified of the patient's imminent arrival and we were able to prepare everything in advance. Prince Friso was brought to the hospital under reanimation conditions. Due to the length of time he was covered under the snow, his brain had been deprived of oxygen. The result was cardiac arrest, which lasted approximately 50 minutes. The patient had to be reanimated during this entire period. Fifty minutes is a very long time. One could say, too long. We hoped that the patient's mild hypothermic state had sufficiently protected the brain against excessive damage. Unfortunately, our hope was in vain. Since last Friday, a team of specialists has been fighting to save Prince Friso's life. Yesterday, a first MRI-scan was possible, without bringing the patient into danger. Since this examination and the latest neurological tests yesterday evening it is clear that the oxygen deprivation has caused extensive damage to the patient's brain. At present it is not certain whether he will ever regain consciousness. In any event, rehabilitation will take months, if not years. Prince Friso's family will now look for an appropriate rehabilitation facility

[cm7007]

Feb 24, 2012 14:19:05 GMT -5 countess said:

such sad news, i'm so sorry for his young family and of course his family and friend

The statement was as follows

Prince Friso was brought to Innsbruck university hospital by rescue helicopter at about 14:00 on 17 February, after being buried by an avalanche in Lech. He was covered for approximately 25 minutes. At the hospital, after receiving initial treatment in the reanimation unit, he was taken straight to the intensive care trauma unit. This unit specialises in treating the most seriously injured avalanche patients with the utmost medical and technical expertise. The unit's head is Dr Wolfgang Koller.


Our unit was notified of the patient's imminent arrival and we were able to prepare everything in advance. Prince Friso was brought to the hospital under reanimation conditions. Due to the length of time he was covered under the snow, his brain had been deprived of oxygen. The result was cardiac arrest, which lasted approximately 50 minutes. The patient had to be reanimated during this entire period. Fifty minutes is a very long time. One could say, too long. We hoped that the patient's mild hypothermic state had sufficiently protected the brain against excessive damage. Unfortunately, our hope was in vain. Since last Friday, a team of specialists has been fighting to save Prince Friso's life. Yesterday, a first MRI-scan was possible, without bringing the patient into danger. Since this examination and the latest neurological tests yesterday evening it is clear that the oxygen deprivation has caused extensive damage to the patient's brain. At present it is not certain whether he will ever regain consciousness. In any event, rehabilitation will take months, if not years. Prince Friso's family will now look for an appropriate rehabilitation facility

What a terribly sad situation. I don't follow this family, or know much about them - but this is horrible for anyone no matter who they are - just horrible. I'll pray that the family will have strength in the days, weeks and months ahead.

[agentf]

It's very sad. As a skier myself, I only got back on skis this winter after Natasha Richardson died a week after I'd skied the same mountain, a few years ago. There's no precaution against an avalanche.

[grimnir]

Max got jeered at in Paris. Someone had the nerve to yell vive la republique.
What's even more interesting is that the article has been taken off. The original link doesn't work anymore.
So for posterity:

Princess Máxima booed
PARIS - Princess Maxima was Saturday night in a concert hall in Paris booed by a section of the public.

Also, someone cried out "Vive la republique" when she entered the room, let royalty reporter Marc van der Linden know via twitter. "Think Maxima little victim of French election campaign and spoiled concert audience. But she was visibly not amused."

The princess attended in Paris the concert of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev. Since 2005 Maxima is a patron of the orchestra. Prince Willem-Alexander should also have been present. He is, however, paying a visit to Prince Friso in London.

---------------------------------------
Translation of the tweet beneath it:
Poor Maxima. Without husband in Paris, jeered at while entering the hall and then someone yells: Vive la republique!

I doubt Max cares very much. Her daddy has escaped prosecution. Again.

www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/11739041/__Vader_Mxima_niet_vervolgd__.html

Justice doesn't prosecute Máxima's father
LONDON - Princess Maxima's father, Jorge Zorreguieta, will not be prosecuted. A spokesperson of the national office of the Public Prosecutor's said to the ANP onSunday.

Relatives of the disappeared in Argentina in 1977 Samuel Slutzky Leonardo did in september last year filed a complaint against the father of Máxima. They accuse him of involvement in the disappearance of thousands of persons in the period 1976-1981 during the reign of President Jorge Videla in Argentina.

According to the attorney general there is no suspicion or evidence of personal involvement in disappearances by Zorreguieta. He did not give orders to people of the former Argentine government, which made victims disappear. There is no evidence that Zorreguieta refused to give information about the disappearances, concludes the OM.

In 2001 there was even filed a complaint against the father of Máxima done. The prosecution and the court then decided that no prosecution was brought because there was no jurisdiction for the Netherlands. By amending legislation may now sue Zorreguieta Netherlands, the Dutch lawyers believed the principals, accusing and Goran Sluiter.

Zegveld believes that the Attorney General itself just to do research into the allegations, which she filed on behalf of her client. According to the lawyer makes Jorge Zorreguieta is to this day guilty of the crime enforced disappearance: "Thousands have disappeared in Argentina at the hands of the regime which Zorreguieta was an active member. Relatives and friends still bear the loss and are still in agonizing uncertainty about the exact fate of their loved ones. "

Jorge Zorreguieta was Deputy Minister of Agriculture during the military regime in Argentina. "Given his high office when he should have been informed. He lies there on demonstrable. This decision of the prosecutor is clearly class justice. "

Counsel has not decided yet whether they will start a procedure for the OM to force Zorreguieta to prosecute. She can do in court.

Zorreguieta because family ties are regularly in the Netherlands. His controversial background in the past for some problems for him and his daughter made. Jorge Zorreguieta was on 2 February 2002 by then Prime Minister Wim Cook not to the marriage of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Máxima come.

[grimnir]

Prince Friso keeps hit board job
BRUSSELS - Prince Friso remains a director of the Belgian telecom company Telenet. Its mandate will not change the company yet. This is evident from the recently published annual report of the company.

"The Board is aware that Mr. Friso of Orange-Nassau for a long time probably will not be able to attend the meetings," the text in the report. "Given the current circumstances," the board of directors decided not to change anything.

On February 17 became the prince buried under an avalanche in Austrian Lech. Friso walked through the skiing accident, severe brain damage and will possibly never regained consciousness. He was early March transported to a London hospital.

Friso, who since 2004 has been an independent director of Telenet, received for his board work last year, 47,500 euros, as is also published in the annual report.

Original here: www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/11789238/__Prins_houdt_bestuursbaan__.html

This is just one of his many jobs so do the maths yourself.

[paca]

well, apparently his job is not vital for the company. It serves their image as a company though, so it is not entirely altruistic. As a normal worker he would be protected from losing his job as well. It is only just over a month. as long as there has not been an official statement saying that he will remain in coma, they would have no legal reason to replace him. And that goes for regular employees as well. Only with a regular employee they would not use it to do PR as the public wouldn't care. btw I saw a report in the news yesterday about a Belgium coma center. They seem to be the best in their field (at least in Europe) so who knows, if he will not be at some stage transported there. I believe at this stage the emphasis has been on finding a good place for him to be cared for and the best opportunity for the relatives to handle the situation. For the daughters it is vital to get back into their normal routine, see their friends and be able to see their dad quickly. BUt in a few months, if the condition continues, they might try to find a different place and in the longrun maybe even relocate the entire family. Belgium is not far from Holland and part of it speaks Dutch, so not an unthinkable scenario.

[grimnir]

Just in case you've missed all the fuss: Wax and Max's controversial holiday home in Mozambique is for sale. And it isn't selling like hot cakes. This week's Dutch tabloids had (late) articles about it.

Pics can be found here:
i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h356/_grimnir/MC/501.jpg
i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h356/_grimnir/MC/502.jpg
i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h356/_grimnir/MC/503.jpg
i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h356/_grimnir/MC/504.jpg

Brief summary:

They are so normal, just like any other Dutchman. Until you see their villa.
60.000 square meters of garden, view on the Indian ocean, miles of empty beach, 1,700 square meters of house. Room for 24 guests, in two semi-detached guest quarters. Outside shower with huge wooden wall for the privacy. Pool with his and hers toilets, changing rooms and outdoor showers. One main house, guest quarters and two separate houses for staff. All built on poles in the dunes. Walk-in closet by the main bedroom, walk-in fridge in the kitchen. A total of 9 bathrooms and three kitchens, not counting those in the staff houses. Staff houses contain another 4 bedrooms and 3 showers.

To sell it, privacy went out the window. 80,000 euros for an advertisement in GG magazine (Global Guide magazine) where Wax bares his soul in an interview in an attempt to sell the house. He shares his deepest feelings and tells exactly what he did during his holidays. How he and Max were sitting in the dunes, watching humpbackwhales, how his daughters surfed on the beach and how wonderful it is to be in Mozambique at all times of the year. Note that Wax rarely, if ever, gives interviews!

While Wax and Max didn't want any excess luxury, but many people shall look at the pictures openmouthed. Interior decorating with advice of two London interior decorators.

Head editor of the magazine in her editorial: "Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands speaks openly about his unique house on the bay of Machangulo, a wonderful, unspoilt place in southeast Africa. He created together with his wife, princess Maxima, a holiday home with just one purpose in mind: as simple as possible, no excess luxury."

(source: This week's Dutch Weekend magazine and Privé magazine).

No excess luxury compared to what he is normally used to, that should be.

ROYALTY BY MARC VAN DER LINDEN(head editor of Weekend magazine)

Double standards

[/size]

Willem-Alexander is of course free to do whatever he pleases and certainly to say whatever he wants. Yet I was a little surprised when I saw this week's GG Magazine. Because suddenly his privacy seemed not something to be protected at all costs. The Dutch media have been held on a tight rein by the royal family for several years when it comes to pictures for which no permission has been given. There have even been several court cases, all won by the prince. And during press interviews no questions may be asked about their private life. The Oranges find that irrelevant and shield their private life as much as possible. That is a choice with which you can agree or not, but fact is that they are in their right.

Yet it looks a bit odd if the prince hasn't any issues with privacy if a house needs to be sold. Then pictures may be made, even of the bedroom and the prince himself is available to add nice quotes to the pictures. Even more annoying is that the prince doesn't do it in a Dutch magazine, but in a foreign magazine. May his future subjects not know how his holiday home looks like and what he has to say about it? I find it a bit a case of applying double standards.

Bizar too is that the journalist who interviewed the prince, the realtor who sells the house and the photographer who made the pictures all were bound to secrecy. Apparently the reins from the Netherlands out to everybody else are being held very tight. Why so much secrecy? If Willem-Alexander and Maxima themselves had shown their house and had defended their plans, they could have gone to Machangulo each year. Now they lose that nice place and every detail causes commotion again.

And talking about double standards, can you insist as a royal family that you are not so rich as everybody thinks when one of your members builts a house on the other side of the world with nine bathrooms? A house that is for sale at the moment for four million euros? At the same time the hereditary couple also owns a big ranch in Argentinia, bought as a sort of investment, but also worth several millions.

Alexander and Maxima will, when the house in Mozambique is sold, go and look for a new holiday home. If no issues arise over that house and the family goes holidaying there for several years, I bet that Willem-Alexander will declare his privacy the highest good in the world again. Until the house will need to be sold...[/quote]

He should start a career as fortune teller. The new holiday home has just hit the fan today! And I wonder if he knew already...

[refia]

So, I read Beatrix will address the nation tonight. Will she abdicate?
I can hear already Maxima saying her name: "Máxima, Koningin der Nederlanden" ;D
It seriously looks like she is abdicating, even foreign reporters think that. I´m not a fan of Betrix, but WA is blaaahhhh and Maximas ego is huge.

[refia]

Rofl at those who think it´s disrespectful to abdicate and you should rule till you die Look at Charles, he looks pathetic.

[creativemind]

BC-EU--APNewsAlert,9
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- Dutch Queen Beatrix says she will abdicate April 30.
AP-WF-01-28-13 1806GMT

[grimnir]

Yep, now the place is really going to the dogs. I noticed there was no mention of any discussion about Maxima becoming queen. What happened to the "we will decide that when the time comes"? Not to mention the prudence of wasting millions on the event in times like this.

My commiserations to all Dutchies, on the continent and overseas.