Religion and Religious Matters of the Dutch RF

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Prinsara

The Netherlands may not be Britain, but Wilhelmina was absolutely adamant in searching for a Protestant bridegroom for Juliana. I always assumed that was law, but I suppose it could have been personal conviction and religious fervor.

Not sure what she would make of Maxima!

When Wilhelmina returned to the Netherlands after the war, one of her first acts on Dutch soil was to attend a High Mass of Thanksgiving in Breda Cathedral, so she obviously had no problem with Catholicism.

[Alison H]

Mixed religion marriages were frowned upon by most people in the 1930s - not necessarily because they had a problem with other religions, but just from a "stick to your own kind" mindset, and the idea that it was important for future generations to be kept within the religious fold. Times have changed a lot since then. We'd all see things differently if we lived in different times.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Iain

When Wilhelmina returned to the Netherlands after the war, one of her first acts on Dutch soil was to attend a High Mass of Thanksgiving in Breda Cathedral, so she obviously had no problem with Catholicism.

The Great- or Our Lady's Church in Breda, with 6 centuries old Nassau graves, is a Protestant church.

On 1410 build as Catholic Church - seven years earlier, in 1403, Breda came in hands of the Nassaus as fief to the Duke of Brabant. In 1566 King Philip II of Spain, Duke of Brabant, confiscated all properties of Willem I of Nassau, Prince of Orange.

1577 Protestant - Breda conquered by Willem I van Nassau, Prince d'Orange
1581 Catholic - Breda conquered by Alessandro Farnese e Parma, Duca di Parma
1590 Protestant - Breda conquered by Maurits van Nassau, Prince d'Orange
1625 Catholic - Breda conquered by Ambrogio Spinola Doria e Grimaldi, Marchese di Balbases
1637 Protestant - Breda conquered by Frederik Hendrik van Nassau, Prince d'Orange

All Catholic elements were removed and an empty Protestant interior was the result. Right opposite the pulpit still is the - quite simple- bench for the Prince and Princess of Orange.

Picture:
http://www.lichtendekerk.nl/CMS/uplo...Kerk-Breda.jpg

Picture: usually a bench is decorated with flowery arrangements when the King or Queen uses it. Right after the return of Queen Wilhelmina in Breda, 1945, it was sparse.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...a_DSCF6037.JPG

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

The Great- or Our Lady's Church in Breda, with 6 centuries old Nassau graves, is a Protestant church.

On 1410 build as Catholic Church - seven years earlier, in 1403, Breda came in hands of the Nassaus as fief to the Duke of Brabant. In 1566 King Philip II of Spain, Duke of Brabant, confiscated all properties of Willem I of Nassau, Prince of Orange.

1577 Protestant - Breda conquered by Willem I van Nassau, Prince d'Orange
1581 Catholic - Breda conquered by Alessandro Farnese e Parma, Duca di Parma
1590 Protestant - Breda conquered by Maurits van Nassau, Prince d'Orange
1625 Catholic - Breda conquered by Ambrogio Spinola Doria e Grimaldi, Marchese di Balbases
1637 Protestant - Breda conquered by Frederik Hendrik van Nassau, Prince d'Orange

All Catholic elements were removed and an empty Protestant interior was the result. Right opposite the pulpit still is the - quite simple- bench for the Prince and Princess of Orange.

Picture:
http://www.lichtendekerk.nl/CMS/uplo...Kerk-Breda.jpg

Picture: usually a bench is decorated with flowery arrangements when the King or Queen uses it. Right after the return of Queen Wilhelmina in Breda, 1945, it was sparse.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...a_DSCF6037.JPG

This is not Breda cathedral. The cathedral is St Anthony's on Sint Janstraat and it was here that Queen Wilhelmina attended a Mass of thanksgiving.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

The Great- or Our Lady's Church in Breda, with 6 centuries old Nassau graves, is a Protestant church.



1577 Protestant - Breda conquered by Willem I van Nassau, Prince d'Orange
1581 Catholic - Breda conquered by Alessandro Farnese e Parma, Duca di Parma
1590 Protestant - Breda conquered by Maurits van Nassau, Prince d'Orange
1625 Catholic - Breda conquered by Ambrogio Spinola Doria e Grimaldi, Marchese di Balbases
1637 Protestant - Breda conquered by Frederik Hendrik van Nassau, Prince d'Orange

Quite a lot of religious alterations I'm sure the Catholics restored the decoration each time only to be removed by the Calvinists and so on.

[Mbruno]

Would it be acceptable to the Dutch people and to the Dutch Royal House if Amalia for example decided to convert to Catholicism? I understand that only around 20 % of the Dutch population is now either Protestant or some form of non-Catholic Christian, so in principle it shouldn't be a big deal, but is it, given the history of the Orange-Nassau family and their connection to Protestantism?

I know it is unlikely that Amalia will convert (despite having a Catholic mother), but I am just asking a hypothetical question.

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

Would it be acceptable to the Dutch people and to the Dutch Royal House if Amalia for example decided to convert to Catholicism? I understand that only around 20 % of the Dutch population is now either Protestant or some form of non-Catholic Christian, so in principle it shouldn't be a big deal, but is it, given the history of the Orange-Nassau family and their connection to Protestantism?

I know it is unlikely that Amalia will convert (despite having a Catholic mother), but I am just asking a hypothetical question.

It won't cause as much uproar as when her great-aunts did so in the 60s (and 90s - not much uproar at all as she wasn't constitutional relevant). A few people (among them the political party SGP) will be unhappy but if she would truly would want to, it won't have serious consequences unlike when princess Irene did the same. But I don't expect her to do so. The family doesn't seem overly religious (although the king stresses at time his personal faith), so my guess would be that she will remain protestant as that is the tradition.