Dutch Nobility

[Royalist0007]

Does anyone know if the Netherlands have a hereditary nobility? I know that Belgium does.

Aidan.

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by Royalist0007

Does anyone know if the Netherlands have a hereditary nobility? I know that Belgium does.

Aidan.

Yes. The Netherlands does have a hereditary Nobility, protected by the Act on the Nobility and the Civic Code, regulated by the High Council of Nobility and enforced by Law.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Nobility

http://www.hogeraadvanadel.nl/

[Royalist0007]

Thanks,Henri M. Has Queen Beatrix ever conferred any noble titles on her subjects,or has this been stopped by an Act of the States General?

Aidan.

[Marengo]

The last time when a noble title was awarded was in 1939. After that it became uncommon to reward people that way. And in 1983 it officially became impossible.
Untill the late 90-ties foreign nobility could be incorporated by the Dutch nobility counsil, but that can no longer be done either. The last ones who used this procedure were the children of Princess Irene: Prince Carlos, Jaime and Princesses Margarita and Maria-Carolina of Bourbon-Parma.
Now only members of the RF can be ennobled, like Princess Maxima who became Princess of The Netherlands by Royal Decree.

[Henri M.]

Nobility is granted by Royal Decree and is one of the royal prerogatives. There are three ways to become a Dutch noble:

1. by recognition of nobility (reconnaissance)
2. by incorporation of foreign nobility into the Netherlands nobility (incorporation)
3. by elevation into the nobility (concession)

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1. by recognition of nobility (reconnaissance)
This means: the King confirms and recognizes the nobility which predates 1795 and was vested in the Netherlands

For an example:

VAN LAWICK VAN PABST (Marius Herbertus),
Born Semarang (Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia)), 2 September 1925
Recognized into the Netherlands Nobility
To him and to all his legal descendants (in the male lineage) is granted the right to use the title Baron (Baroness)
Royal Decree of 9 June 2004, Stb. 307

VERSÉLEWEL DE WITT HAMER (Johan Jacques),
Born Long Iram (Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia)), 28 May 1918
Recognized into the Netherlands Nobility
To him and to all his legal descendants (in the male lineage) is granted the right to use the predicate Jonkheer (Jonkvrouw)
Royal Decree of 9 June 2004, Stb. 307

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2. by incorporation of foreign nobility into the Netherlands nobility (incorporation)
This means: a foreign noble becomes naturalized and requests his nobility to be recognized and be enlisted into the Netherlands Nobility

For an example:

KENNESEY DE KENESE (Miklós Kálmán),
born Balassagyarmat (Hungary), 21 February 1933
Incorporated into the Netherlands Nobility
To him and to all his legal descendants (in the male lineage) is granted the right to use the predicate Jonkheer (Jonkvrouw)
Royal Decree of 9 June 2004, Stb. 307

PRISSE (Eduardus Petrus Alphert),
born Uccle (Belgium), 23 December 1938
Incorporated into the Netherlands Nobility
To him and to his firstborn is granted the right to use the title Baron (Baroness).
His other legal descendants (in the male lineage) are granted the right to use the predicate Jonkheer (Jonkvrouw)
Royal Decree of 9 June 2004, Stb. 307

----

3. by elevation into the nobility (concession)
This means the granting of new nobility. Since 1998 this is only possible for members of the Royal House (or -within three months- for those who have lost of the membership of the Royal House)

For an example:

VAN ORANJE-NASSAU VAN AMSBERG (Johan Friso Christiaan Bernhard David),
Born Utrecht (the Netherlands), 25 September 1968
Elevated into the Netherlands Nobility
To him and to all his legal descendants (in the male lineage) is granted the right to use the title Count (Countess)

[magnik]

Maybe it somehow help;
http://worldroots.com/brigitte/royal/royal16b.htm

[Guido]

Does anyone know if there is Dutch nobility in the Netherlands? Who are they? Are they close to the royal family?

[Guido]

Dutch noble houses.

Categoryutch nobility - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Marengo]

Good grief, they even have Gaius Julius Civilis in this list! The leader of the Batavians that revolted against Rome.

Here a list in dutch with all the noble families that are around today,. Note that there are several foreign royals/nobles in the Dutch nobility too, like the Stolberg-Stolbergs, Wolff-Metternichs and the Earl of Clancarty.

[Guido]

Thank you Marengo.

[CordeliaFitzgerald]

Audrey Hepburn's mother was a Dutch aristocrat. Ella was from the van Heemstra family and was a baroness.