Princess Margriet & Prof Pieter Van Vollenhoven, Current Events 1 (Jul 2003-Nov 2006) - Page 17

**Marengo** · #**321** 09-05-2006, 06:05 PM

Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven was interviewed by news programme ´NOVA´today. The definate raport he and ´his´comission of public safety have made about the fire in an ansylium center near the national airport will be presented tomorrow. The conclusions are said to be rather harsh for the dutch state.

During the interview he was wearing a tie with a pattern of daisies on it and had a sort of silver pin/daisy in his suit (Margriet is dutch for daisy).

The programme also interviewed some of the victims of the fire. They were proud that they were supported by ´such an important man´.

princess olga · #**322** 09-05-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marengo

Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven was interviewed by news programme ´NOVA´today. The definate raport he and ´his´comission of public safety have made about the fire in an ansylium center near the national airport will be presented tomorrow. The conclusions are said to be rather harsh for the dutch state.

During the interview he was wearing a tie with a pattern of daisies on it and had a sort of silver pin/daisy in his suit (Margriet is dutch for daisy).

The programme also interviewed some of the victims of the fire. They were proud that they were supported by ´such an important man´.

Interesting that he's saying it like it is! Just like he did when he was asked his opinion during the recent stink regarding his sons Amsterdam parking permits.

This man is an asset to the DRF and weirdly, for almost as long as I lived in the Netherlands, about 25 years, he got really bad press, the media, and the country, were always laughing at him, it seemed. They were always belittling him and making fun of him. There actually are quite some myths about him that either the press made up or some snob member, the theory goes, in his in-law family, to discredit the man who was the first commoner to marry into the DRF.

As it turns out, he's actually a gregarious person with a seemingly sound head on his shoulders, not an idiot at all like the Dutch media made him out to be for decades.

**Marengo** · #**323** 09-06-2006, 04:31 AM

The media has totally turned around the last decade or so. Instead of the funny man with the big ears playing a piano, they take him more seriously now. Even the (sour) presenter of left-leaning ´NOVA´ did not make a cynical remark on the side.
I think that one of his main problems was that he did not really have a specified role. Nobody knew what was to be expected of the husband of a princess. To have a carreer of his own was out of the question in those days (not anymore, I think), he shouldn´t ´get´ to much and overshadow his father-in-law or Prince Claus etc. Only when he dedicated himself to the cause of safer traffic, victims and now public safety did he gain respect.

-
Anyway, I am still in favour of Queen Beatrix would make him a count or so, it would be nice if his sons would have a title to pass on to their children (though in the Netherlands noble titles do not mean that much).

Alexandria · #**324** 09-06-2006, 09:31 AM

I'm surprised to hear that for so long Prof. van Vollenhoven was mocked by his fellow Dutchmen and the Dutch media. I've only been following the Dutch royals for the last six or seven years now but Pieter always seemed like such a kind, caring and sympathetic man. I couldn't see anything to make fun of him for. He seemed like a very caring and doting husband, father and grandfather. And in the years following Claus's death then Bernhard's, Pieter seemed to take on the role of patriarch of the family. And during her silver jubilee, Queen Beatrix had some very nice things to say about her brother in law. Someone whom the Queen had such nice things to say about couldn't be all that bad. But perhaps he was a bit in the shadow of Claus, Bernhard Sr. and the other male members of the royal family who might've been more assertive than him (though I don't get that impession about Claus who seemed very kind and gentle, too.)

**Marengo** · #**325** 09-08-2006, 05:42 AM

Well, the press and comedians especially made fun of his ears, pianoplaying and his role (as sidekick of the spare, so to speak).
IMO he was the easiest person of the RF to mock, as he isn´t a ´real´ royal, so some made use of that (as it was still a taboo to mock the royals themselves). The mocking was never to illspirited though.

The last 15 years or so it has stopped. From what I see on television images etc. it happened especially in the 80-ties when he was performing with his two of his friends on the piano.

Prince Claus personally might not have minded to be overshadowed by Pieter, but it wouldn´t have been a healthy thing for the institute, that the prince-consort has less (important) duties then somebody down the line. Like now it wouldn´t be very good if Laurentien would have more functions then Maxima.

-

BTW, Pieter yesterday presented a raport about dutch monumental buildings, 135 million euros extra are needed to restore and preserve them in the near future. He is chairman or spokesperson for ´Monumentenzorg´.

Squidgy · #**326** 09-10-2006, 08:26 AM

Sept. 8th 2006 Princess Margriet unveiled a stain glass window at the Nieuwe Kerk,Delft.

Photos: ANP

**Marengo** · #**327** 09-11-2006, 05:47 PM

I love the way Margriet looks, but not to sure about the window. It must be a bit weird for her to be on such a festive occassion in a church which is almost only associated with mourning.

**Marengo** · #**328** 09-12-2006, 01:50 PM

Today (12 september 2006) Willem-Jan van Vollenhoven died from cancer at the age of 71. Willem-Jan is 4 years older then his brother Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven. Due to this death HRH Princess Margriet cancelled her thursday appointment.

Her_Majesty · #**329** 09-12-2006, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marengo

Today (12 september 2006) Willem-Jan van Vollenhoven died from cancer at the age of 71. Willem-Jan is 4 years older then his brother Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven. Due to this death HRH Princess Margriet cancelled her thursday appointment.

How sad! I feel very sorry for his family!
May he rest in peace.

Squidgy · #**330** 09-12-2006, 06:57 PM

That is sad news! I always got the impression (rightly or wrongly) that Pieter was close to his brother. And whenever they attended family events together, I was always taken aback at how similar the two brothers were in appearances.

**Marengo** · #**331** 09-12-2006, 07:12 PM

they were pretty close indeed. though they didn t see each other to often, due to their busy shedueles they telephoned a lot.

btw Willem-Jan is a knight in the order of Orange-Nassau due to his volunteer-work for the youth in Rotterdam.

Squidgy · #**332** 09-13-2006, 06:00 PM

A picture of Willem-Jan van Vollenhoven. The resemblance to his brother Pieter is, I think, striking.

Thanks for the info. Marengo. I didn't realize Willem-Jan was a knight. What kind of volunteer work did he do? And was he involved in law like Pieter?

Photo: Picture Press Europe

**Marengo** · #**333** 09-22-2006, 03:58 AM

Prof Pieter van Vollenhoven presented the report of the safety board to the press yesterday. As a result two ministers, Piet Hein Donner (Justice) and Sybilla Dekker (Housing) had to resign, as did the mayor of Haarlemmermeer.

picture: planet.nl

Again Pieter was wearing a tie with daisies and a little daisy pin in his jacket. On various newsstations yesterday had special reports on Pieter van Vollenhoven, one opened with ´Pieter: from zero to hero´.

HRH Mims · #**334** 10-04-2006, 02:56 PM

04-10-2006 Artis Princess Margriet has opened the Butterflypavilion at Artis in Amsterdam.
Princess Margriet is patroness of the Royal Zoological Natura Artis Magistra.
http://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?z...0-2006%20Artis

Squidgy · #**335** 10-04-2006, 06:25 PM

Thank you Mims111 for the link. These are lovely pictures - especially the ones of Margriet with the butterfly perched on her finger. Maybe the butterfly was attracted to her nice floral jacket!

Always nice to see my favourite Dutch Royal out & about!

mandyy · #**336** 10-06-2006, 08:23 AM

Article from HELLO
The Netherlands' Princess Margriet had a vibrant encounter when she went along to open a new feature at the Artiz Zoo in Amsterdam this week. Queen Beatrix' younger sister met up with some of her home country's most colourful inhabitants when she opened the attraction's new butterfly pavilion.........
http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty...cess-margriet/

Her_Majesty · #**337** 10-20-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

20-10-2006 Tolkamer Princess Margriet has opened the new daycare and service providing centre Lobede in Tolkamer

PPE
more pictures:
http://www.ppe-agency.com/

dutch royal · #**338** 10-26-2006, 05:14 AM

I was also there making pictures, here are some of them!!!!

next one!!

another one!!!

next!!

last one!!

Her_Majesty · #**339** 11-06-2006, 02:13 PM

Quote:

06-11-2006 Amsterdam Princess Margriet has attended the Prince Bernard Culturefund event at the IJ in Amsterdam. Arthur Langeveld, Nicoline van der Sijs, Theo Maassen

http://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?z...06%20Amsterdam

Some pictures from ANP
http://www.anp-photo.com/search.pp?p...=3983603&pos=1
http://www.anp-photo.com/search.pp?p...=3983593&pos=2

Squidgy · #**340** 11-06-2006, 04:25 PM

Thanks for the pictures Her Majesty.

Gosh, Margriet looks great, even with pink hair!

(And Linda, thanks for your personal pictures of Margriet in Tolkamer - they are always a pleasure to see.)