Queen Beatrix, Current Events 2 (August 2005 - June 2006) - Page 14

Mandrake · #**261** 02-12-2006, 04:55 PM

Isn't that a lovely castle. Beatrix bought Drakesteyn in the early sixties, so its seems normal that the place needs drastic renovations. Nothing to be worried about, although its nice for the Queen to have the place up to date for her days as a pensioner.. hopefully that won't be soon!

Alexandria · #**262** 02-12-2006, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marengo

apparently the queen ordered the renovation of Castle Drakensteyn in Lage Vuursche, where she lived with her husband and children when she was still a crownprincess. This started rumours that the Queen will abdicate in the not-to-far future (as does the extended renovation of the Royal Palace at Dam square).

This is going to sound stupid ... But how big is Drakensteyn? The pictures make it seem small. It doesn't seem very wide, so is it very deep (space wise)?

My first thought when I saw the pictures was that looked like a nice guest house, which, would make it nice for the Queen if and when she abdicates as it would only be her. But hardly big enough for a young and active family as Constantijn and Laurentien's (two growing kids plus a third on the way).

lucien · #**263** 02-13-2006, 02:51 AM

Alexandria,Drakensteyn is indeed not all that big,but it was here the then Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus raised their three handfulls at the time,and they always referred to this little castle as the place where they were the happiest.Actually there are several buildings in front of the castle,for staff and office space.The Drakensteyn estate provided privacy to the Princess and later to the family as it is neatly tucked in in the greater estate surrounding Soestdijk Palace,and the family used to get on their bycicles,weather allowing,to visit the parents and grandparents,cycling through the park/estate.

http://www.seegerpress-online.de/see...1117618535&str...

http://www.seegerpress-online.de/see...1117618524&str...

**Marengo** · #**264** 02-13-2006, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexandria

But hardly big enough for a young and active family as Constantijn and Laurentien's (two growing kids plus a third on the way).

I think the average dutch family would be jumoping in the air of joy if they could afford a house of this size

I agree with you, Mandrake, the renovations van be necessairy as the building has been neglected for quite some years. I think the upcoming years any change will create rumours of an abdication. However, I do not think the Queen will abdicate within 5 years.

susan alicia · #**265** 02-13-2006, 07:13 AM

and it is not about size, the house is a marvelous historical home,

would prefere it anyday to the southforkish phony 17th century house wa and maxima live in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marengo

I think the average dutch family would be jumoping in the air of joy if they could afford a house of this size

I agree with you, Mandrake, the renovations van be necessairy as the building has been neglected for quite some years. I think the upcoming years any change will create rumours of an abdication. However, I do not think the Queen will abdicate within 5 years.

pollyemma · #**266** 02-13-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan alicia

and it is not about size, the house is a marvelous historical home,

would prefere it anyday to the southforkish phony 17th century house wa and maxima live in.

yeah, its really lovely. well WA grew up there and I am sure he had his reasons for deciding to raise his family at eikenhorst rather than drakensteyn.

i think that when beatrix retires she will go live at Soestdijk. and WA and Maxima will probably go live at huis ten bosch-its close to De Hague and also very majestic.

barber · #**267** 02-13-2006, 09:42 AM

I think queen Beatrix will live on Drakensteyn when
WA will be king.

pollyemma · #**268** 02-13-2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barber

I think queen Beatrix will live on Drakensteyn when
WA will be king.

maybe but Drakensteyn is private Oranje property so they can do whatever they want with it. Soestdijk is government owned. if no one lives there for too long there may be pressure to turn it into a museum or something.

susan alicia · #**269** 02-13-2006, 10:32 AM

someone has already been appointed to think about what should be done with soestdijk, can not remember his name. It is definite that they will not live there anymore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pollyemma

maybe but Drakensteyn is private Oranje property so they can do whatever they want with it. Soestdijk is government owned. if no one lives there for too long there may be pressure to turn it into a museum or something.

**Marengo** · #**270** 02-13-2006, 06:19 PM

I fear the same. Ity is said the PoO finds it to 'open', so the palace lacks privacy. It will be hard for Beatrix to part from Huis ten Bosch, where she spend most of her married life, but I think it is most likely she will retire to Drakensteyn. I really wonder what they will do to Soesdijk and fear the worst, especially it is the palace I like best (not for the architectonial beauty but it seems a 'friendly' palace, and is connnected to Queen Juliana of course).

susan alicia · #**271** 02-14-2006, 04:50 AM

went there once with a couple of friends, remember tuf tuffing in an old brokendown car, (an "eend") around a circular flower bed. A friend of ours was a nanny to a few grandchildren of juliana. Remember very heavy lace curtains, think in the long arcade with windows and how beautifull they were, probably because they were the real 19th century thing and excactly right for the place they were.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marengo

I fear the same. Ity is said the PoO finds it to 'open', so the palace lacks privacy. It will be hard for Beatrix to part from Huis ten Bosch, where she spend most of her married life, but I think it is most likely she will retire to Drakensteyn. I really wonder what they will do to Soesdijk and fear the worst, especially it is the palace I like best (not for the architectonial beauty but it seems a 'friendly' palace, and is connnected to Queen Juliana of course).

**Marengo** · #**272** 02-15-2006, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan alicia

went there once with a couple of friends, remember tuf tuffing in an old brokendown car, (an "eend") around a circular flower bed. A friend of ours was a nanny to a few grandchildren of juliana. Remember very heavy lace curtains, think in the long arcade with windows and how beautifull they were, probably because they were the real 19th century thing and excactly right for the place they were.

The lace curtains with the lions you mean? I though they were made in the 30-ties, but I am not sure. Now, you were so priviledged, driving on the estate, and in an 'Eend' (my favourite car)!

susan alicia · #**273** 02-15-2006, 07:24 AM

you are better informed than I am re the curtains, do not remember a particular pattern.
Remember the guard giving us a big smile, we must have looked cute to him in that car

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marengo

The lace curtains with the lions you mean? I though they were made in the 30-ties, but I am not sure. Now, you were so priviledged, driving on the estate, and in an 'Eend' (my favourite car)!

susan alicia · #**274** 02-16-2006, 05:47 AM

Today on the frontpage of the dutch newspaper De Volkskrant:

beatrix invited Amnesty International, it's then president Mr. Vriesendorp at a banquet in honor of the nigerian president Obasanjo in order to give them a chance to lobby for the release of Amina Lawal a 30-year-old Muslim woman who had received a death sentence, by stoning, as a punishment for bearing a child out of wedlock. The lobby was succesfull.

I noticed also that the proceeds of the cd with clasical music played during her christmasspeech would also go to amnesty international.

purple_platinum · #**275** 02-27-2006, 11:50 PM

Queen and Prime Minister honor medals winners of Winter Olympics, 1 March 2006

Her Majesty the Queen and Prime Minister Balkenende, on Wednesday 1 March, will meet the Dutch medal winners of the Olympic winter game in Turijn.
The Queen receives the athletes at Huis ten Bosch palace.

http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/content.jsp?objectid=14347

purple_platinum · #**276** 02-28-2006, 11:18 AM

http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/content.jsp?objectid=14337

State visit to Latvia, 22 - 24 May 2006

Her Majesty the Queen will make a state visit to Latvia, from Monday 22 May till and with Wednesday 24 May 2006.
She does this on invitation of President Vaira Vike-Freiberga.
23 February 2006

**Marengo** · #**277** 02-28-2006, 06:27 PM

It will be great to see HER again, after an absence of over two months. And that it will be during such a festive occassion only adds to the joy :)

So how many state visits will she pay this year?
1) Argentina
2) Latvia (I like their president btw)
3) Belgium?
4) ?
Does anybody know?

purple_platinum · #**278** 03-01-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purple_platinum

Queen and Prime Minister honor medals winners of Winter Olympics, 1 March 2006

Her Majesty the Queen and Prime Minister Balkenende, on Wednesday 1 March, will meet the Dutch medal winners of the Olympic winter game in Turijn.
The Queen receives the athletes at Huis ten Bosch palace.

http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/content.jsp?objectid=14347

photos from ANP

purple_platinum · #**279** 03-01-2006, 12:01 PM

isn't it kinda interesting that the last time the Dutch medal winners met the Queen (after Athens summer olympics 2004), they all wore white suits, and now they all wear black suits.

The Queen looks lovely.. and it's nice to have her back