Costs, Income and Fortune of the Dutch Royal Family

[Kitty1224]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

The Queen uses her part of the functional costs for an example for her garderobe, her beautician, but also to reimburse the costs her Hofdames (Ladies-in-Waiting) make when they have an engagement on behalf of, or with, the Queen. The Act Financial Statute Royal House states that functional costs are paid for by law. (Like no any Dutchman, neither a hospital doctor nor a dustbin-man, has to pay for functional costs like an uniform, a service car, safety shoes or a mobile phone.)

Obviously we have different opinions.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Kitty1224

Obviously we have different opinions.

Indeed. You seem to think that the Queen has to pay her functional costs from her private income. The equivalent of a First Lady paying for the annual White House Christmas decoration or the reception of US sports heroes from her own private money, to name something.

[Duc_et_Pair]

After the King's Speech, the Second Chamber started a two-day debate about it. Yesterday the opinions and questions from the side of the Chamber. Today the answers from the Government. For so far there were no remarks or questions about the incomes and the Budget 2020 for The King. That there are no questions is not so strange as the incomes and the Budget are vested in the Constitution and in the Act on the financial statute of the Royal House 1974 (reviewed 2002). As long as all remains in that framework there is little to ask about.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Indeed. You seem to think that the Queen has to pay her functional costs from her private income. The equivalent of a First Lady paying for the annual White House Christmas decoration or the reception of US sports heroes from her own private money, to name something.

Does the US First Lady use "functional funds" to pay for her personal wardrobe or jewellery ? I guess you could count clothing and accessories under functional costs given the nature of her "job", but, if that is already factored in the functional budget, it should be deduced from her private income.


I am sorry, but it is hard for an outside observer (for example, for us, commenting from the other side of the Atlantic) not to conclude that the Oranges in particular abuse public money, which is even more shocking when you consider that they are privately very wealthy and have historically used public funds to boost and grow their private fortune.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

Does the US First Lady use "functional funds" to pay for her personal wardrobe or jewellery ? I guess you could count clothing and accessories under functional costs given the nature of her "job", but, if that is already factored in the functional budget, it should be deduced from her private income.


I am sorry, but it is hard for an outside observer (for example, for us, commenting from the other side of the Atlantic) not to conclude that the Oranges in particular abuse public money, which is even more shocking when you consider that they are privately very wealthy and have historically used public funds to boost and grow their private fortune.

Article 41 of the Constitution says that the King organizes his House. The reimbursement of functional costs for the three members of the Royal House who receive a personal income are given in that framework. For an example to appoint a Thesauriër van de Koning (the King's Treasurer) not only working for the Royal House Organisation (which directly employs some 380 staff) but also for the royal family in private because the members of the Royal House are at the same time private persons with private interests as well.

Seen article 41, the King himself appoints a self-chosen trusted Thesauriër, rather than getting some official directed by the Ministry of Finances or so. That situation would be conflicting with the constitutional right of the King to organise his House. The functional costs are largely destined to appoint self-chosen staff like the Thesauriër, the Particulier Secretaris, the Private Assistant, the Director of the Royal House Archives, the reimbursement of the Grand-Mastress, the Hofdames, and that sort of officials.

[Marengo]

Next week the Queen is working for 10 years for the UNSGSA. The NOS asked the government how much these visits for the UN cost the Dutch taxpayer. According to the department of Foreign Affairs they cost 150.000 Euros per year. The costs mainly consist of travel- and stay expenses for the Queen and the employee of the Dienst Koninklijk Huis that accompanies her.

The costs are paid from the 17 million Euro budget for 'Special Multilateral Affairs' of the department of Development Aid and Foreign Affairs.

https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/regerin...xima~aaca75bb/

[Duc_et_Pair]

Last week the newspaper NRC Handelsblad and Zembla (a current affairs program on Dutch public TV) tried to stir some upheaval about the private inheritance of the late Queen Juliana (1909-2004).

While her eldest daughter Beatrix, as Queen, was exempted from inheritance taxes, her three other daughters (Princess Irene, Princess Margriet and Princess Christina) had to pay inheritance taxes, like all Dutch.

Since the 1950's the Dutch State has an arrangement: heirs can pay their inheritance taxes in natura. That means: handing over exceptional paintings, statues, artworks, books, cars, domains, estates, etc. The tax revenue service then adds 20% to the estimated value. For an example: a painting is estimated 100.000 Euro. Handing over this painting to the State then counts for 120.000 Euro of paid succession taxes. A profit of 20.000 Euro for the heirs.

This arrangement is for ALL Dutch citizens, not only for the royal family. As none of the three youngest daughters of Queen Juliana do live in a palace or a castle, what can they do with 19th C Russian malachite furniture? Or a royalblue Minerva Limousine State Landaulette from 1925?

So the three youngest daughters handed over properties worth 8,8 million Euro to the State as a partial payment of their inheritance taxes over Queen Juliana's private assets.

What was now the "scandal"? By the true meaning of this arrangement, properties handed over to the State should be accessible in museums. For some properties however the ministers decided differently: a set of malachite furniture made for a salon in Soestdijk Palace was not in a museum but is now in Noordeinde Palace, which functions as office of the King. A painting by Willem van de Velde which always hung at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, changed ownership: from one of the three youngest daughters to the State. However: the painting is still at the same place in the Royal Palace Amsterdam, decorating the King's study. So the stamp "privébezit" (private ownership) has changed into "Rijksbezit" (state ownership) but for the rest the King still enjoys the malachite furniture or this painting.

The State Information Service has informed that the named properties have become into "Rijksbezit" (state ownership) indeed and are used in other "Rijksbezit" which is given in use to the King: the State-owned royal palaces.

The attempt of NRC Handelsblad and Zembla to stir a controverse was not successful. After all it were not the three youngest daughters to decide what the State does with 8,8 million worth of private properties they handed over. That the State decided some exceptional furniture or artworks are best kept in palaces was not their decision.

And: had the three youngest daughters NOT used this arrangement to hand over properties to the State but to auction it for commercial value at Christie's or Sotheby's, then there would have been critics as well. See the sale of a Rubens' study by the late Princess Christina, earlier this year.

Besides the hand-over of properties to the State, the daughters were "left" with thousands of items, assembled in 1500 "lots", from porcelainware to damast, from guest room ameublements to palace dustbins, from bureaux to commodes, from chandeliers to candelabras, which were auctioned for charities. These 1500 lots, with no great artistic value, nevertheless resulted in 5 million Euro for charities.

But even this was criticized by NRC Handelsblad and Zembla: the amount given to charities is deductible from taxes. So the three daughters also "profited" from their emptied atticks. But this arrangement counts for ALL Dutch taxpayers. When one donates 2.500 euro to Animal Welfare, this is deductible for taxes.

All by all the controverse did not really cause upheaval, despite the "news low" Christmas period. While the most important items were placed into foundations, Queen Juliana still had lots of private items. Queen Beatrix will have "parked" the most valuable private items in her tax-free part, anyone can see: what could Irene, Margriet and Christina do with these sumptuous palace inventories? Their handing-over in fact kept these private properties in use for the Royal House, otherwise it was now auctioned to someone in China... And most likely ministers thought historical items are better in a palace which is in use than in a museal depôt, gathering dust.

It is not known what the three daughters paid in succession taxes. Only the partial payment in natura, a value of 8,8 million worth of palace items, is now known.

[Marengo]

I thought it was a rather elegant arrangement. It is not uncommon for noble families in the UK and perhaps elsewhere. From the memoires of the late Duchess of Devonshire I remember how the family handed over some houses to the National Trust to settle death duties.

The other option would have been to see more pieces of art of the royal collection ending up at auctions. And we have seen recently that that is a problem for many people in parliament as well.

[Marengo]

The current affairs television program Zembla of BNN-VARA is trying to stir some more upheaval about the finances of the RF.

This time they spoke to two legal experts who claim that the King is receiving unlawful 'nature' subsidies for the Crown Domain Het Loo. The amount is 4,7 million Euros. The foundation Faunabescherming apparently started a procedure of appeal.

The experts say that the money can only be given if the domain is open to the public for 358 days a year, which is not the case. The expert makes a big jump and claims the only reason he can think of is that the King wants to be able to hunt unhampered for the rest of the year.

https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2020/05/13...t-loo-a3999697

https://www.destentor.nl/apeldoorn/p...ww.google.com/

[Muhler]

Things must be quiet in the Netherlands these days...

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Marengo

The current affairs television program Zembla of BNN-VARA is trying to stir some more upheaval about the finances of the RF.

This time they spoke to two legal experts who claim that the King is receiving unlawful 'nature' subsidies for the Crown Domain Het Loo. The amount is 4,7 million Euros. The foundation Faunabescherming apparently started a procedure of appeal.

The experts say that the money can only be given if the domain is open to the public for 358 days a year, which is not the case. The expert makes a big jump and claims the only reason he can think of is that the King wants to be able to hunt unhampered for the rest of the year.

https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2020/05/13...t-loo-a3999697

https://www.destentor.nl/apeldoorn/p...ww.google.com/

I have seen the program and it was one long attempt to find anything. Especially letting people from the Party for Animals and of Fauna Protection and of known members of the Republican Society ventilate their opinion was quite showing the intention of Zembla.

In a nutshell the problem is that in 1959 Princess Wilhelmina donated the Crown Domains to the State (the program: "to all of us") but there was a condition: the Bearer of the Crown kept all the owner's rights. Purpose was to keep these vast forestst and moorlands together and in usufruct of the Bearer of the Crown. Princess Wilhelmina even had a remainder attached to the Act of Donation: in case of an end of the monarchy, the last Bearer of the Crown gets the Crown Domains returned (or is compensated for the value of it).

So the problem is: "it is ours, we want to walk and forbid hunting" vs "the Bearer of the Crown holds the ownership rights and decides on the matter" (in reality: the rentmeester (Steward) whom manages the Crown Domains on behalf of the King).

The stick to hit the King is an annual forestry management subsidy, which is open for all landowners. In return the domains are open except one month a year. But the King closes down for three months a year. He has legal permission to do so: "for the protection of the private lifesphere". Legal activists argue that this argument is nonsense. Other will say that as no any other especially the King is different and indeed needs protection of the private lifesphere.

It is a long lasting discussion which flares up every two-three years. What the activists fail to see, was it not for the iron protection of the Crown Domains thanks to Princess Wilhelmina's conditions, the Netherlands would not have a big undisturbed nature reserve. It would have been eaten by roads, railways, growing suburbia.

[Marengo]

Dutch newspapers today ran a story on Princess Amalia's income for 2021. Tomorrow -on Prinsjesdag- the numbers will be official but it now seems clear how much she will recieve.

For the 24 days that she is 18 years old in 2021 the Princess will receive a total of 107.000 Euros, of which 19.000 Euros is her personal income.

For a normal year the income would be 1.587.000 Euros. This can be separated in 1.305.000 Euros for staff and other functional costs and 282.000 Euros as a personal income.

In previous years parliament has expressed some complaints about this sum and it is expected that this years some parties will again complain. The constitution however entitles the princess to this sum. And a constitutional change that included the income of the crown princess has been approved by parliament only a few years ago.

https://www.ad.nl/show/107-000-euro-...8-is~a5af4adb/

[Susan D]

Although she'll need an office for mail and so, it looks as if Princess Amalia will have to work and will not just be a student. I hope she handles her private money well.

[Marengo]

I am not sure that she does. She will be expected to attend Prinsjesdag (opening of parliament) and will have a seat in the Counsel of State but other than that I suspect they will try to give her a few more years of life as a relatively normal student.

[Duc_et_Pair]

The Budget 2021 for the Royal House (in Euro) :

6,1 million for the King
1,1 million for Queen Máxima

1,7 million for the Princess of Orange (she will become 18 in December so roughly receives 1/12 of the budgetted annual sum)

1,7 million for Princess Beatrix

19,2 million for personnel of the royal household

10 million for material costs of the royal household

900.000 for the use of airplanes

300.000 for material costs of the royal forestry

60.000 euro for visits to the Caribbean parts of the kingdom

2,7 million for the Cabinet of the King (the official secretariate)

2 million for the Military House of the King

1,7 million for the use of the State Information Agency (website, social media, communications)

2 million for State Visits

15,8 million for the maintance of the royal residences

87.000 for the maintenance of Princess Beatrix' sail yacht De Groene Draeck

????? for the security (traditionally never disclosed)

So around 70 million euro a year without the costs of security


https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/onderw...-van-de-koning

[Marengo]

It seems that it is a pay raise of nearly 5%, if I understand the news articles about the topic correctly?

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

The Budget 2021 for the Royal House (in Euro) :

6,1 million for the King
1,1 million for Queen Máxima

1,7 million for the Princess of Orange (she will become 18 in December so roughly receives 1/12 of the budgetted annual sum)

1,7 million for Princess Beatrix

19,2 million for personnel of the royal household

10 million for material costs of the royal household

900.000 for the use of airplanes

300.000 for material costs of the royal forestry

60.000 euro for visits to the Caribbean parts of the kingdom

2,7 million for the Cabinet of the King (the official secretariate)

2 million for the Military House of the King

1,7 million for the use of the State Information Agency (website, social media, communications)

2 million for State Visits

15,8 million for the maintance of the royal residences

87.000 for the maintenance of Princess Beatrix' sail yacht De Groene Draeck

????? for the security (traditionally never disclosed)

So around 70 million euro a year without the costs of security


https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/onderw...-van-de-koning

Originally Posted by Marengo

It seems that it is a pay raise of nearly 5%, if I understand the news articles about the topic correctly?

The incomes are linked to the general pay rise of civil servants working for the State, so + 5% indeed.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Usually this would be the logic:

1,7 million for Queen Máxima

1,7 million for The Princess of Orange

1,7 million for Princess Beatrix

But Queen Máxima gets "only" 1,1 million. Reason: she shares housing, staff, services, facilities and utilities with the King. So the reimbursement for functional costs is lower.

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Usually this would be the logic:

1,7 million for Queen Máxima

1,7 million for The Princess of Orange

1,7 million for Princess Beatrix

But Queen Máxima gets "only" 1,1 million. Reason: she shares housing, staff, services, facilities and utilities with the King. So the reimbursement for functional costs is lower.

Wouldn't this also apply to the princess of Orange - at least for the next few years?

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Somebody

Wouldn't this also apply to the princess of Orange - at least for the next few years?

In principle yes but we may assume she will leave the house, like her cousine Countess Eloïse. A difference is also that the present, the future and the former King have another position than their spouses, their income is functional because of their (future, former) position as head of state. Also Prince Bernhard, Prince Claus and - back then- Princess Máxima received the lowest income from all royals. It has something to do with the
grondslag (the basis) for the complicated calculation.

In any way, all of them receive a nice sum on their bank account.