I am pretty sure those two articles are not the only reason why the Orange-Nassau are richer than the Belgian Coburg. Wise investment over the years, including large stock holdings in Dutch multinational companies like Royal Dutch Shell , also contributed to the family's wealth. On top of that, the Orange-Nassau may have been officially on the Dutch throne as monarchs since 1814 only, but the family's history goes way back. In fact, they have accumulated wealth since the Dutch golden age of the 17th century when the Princes of Orange were de facto hereditary heads of state in what was nominally the old Dutch "republic".
What intrigues me the most about the Coburg though is what happened to the huge fortune that King Leopold II must have amassed during his personal rule of the Belgian Congo. Does anyone know ?
The bulk of King Leopold II's inheritance is in today's
Donation Royale, an autonomous state agency which is responsible for it's maintenance and preservation. It's capital is worth around 500 million Euro. The
Donation Royale holds the following buildings in use for the Belgian royal family:
The Castle of Laeken and the royal serres (the King)
The Castle of Belvédère (King Albert)
The Villa Clémentine (Prince Laurent)
The Castle of Stuyvenberg (the late Queen Fabiola)
(Villa Schonenberg, in use by Princess Astrid is build on the domain)
The Castle of Ciergnon (summer residence)
The Castle of Fenffe (summer residence)
The Castle of Villers-sur-Lesse (hunting lodge)
Other properties owned by the Donation Royale:
Arboretum in Tervuren (public park)
Parc Duden in Forest (public park)
Parc Elisabeth in Laeken (public park)
Maria-Henriëttepark in Oostende (public park)
Leopold II-park in Nieuwpoort (public park)
Koloniale Tuin / Jardin Colonial in Laeken (public park)
Memorial Chapel for Queen Astrid of Belgium, in Küssnacht, Switzerland
Japanese Tower in Laeken (open for public)
Chinese Pavilion in Laeken (open for public)
Ravenstein Castle and domain in Tervuren (rented to a golf club)
Ardenne Castle and domain in Houyet (rented to a golf club)
Domain in Klemskerke near De Haan, Belgium (rented to a golf club)
Castle Hertoginnedal in Auderghem (in usufruct by the Government)
Castle Ferage in Houyet (no use)
Royal Villa in Oostende (rented to a health centre)
15.5 km² farmland
48 km² woodland in Houyet
5 km² woodland in Postel
Terrains of the British School in Tervuren
Ponds of Boitsfort
Wellington racecourse and Stables in Oostende
Sports centre in Strombeek-Bever
Dunes in De Panne
Offices in Brussels (Kunstberg / Mont des Arts)
Carrefour des Quatre-Bras (square near Waterloo)
We can say that somehow, somewhere, the Belgian royal family is not de jure, but de facto very rich because they have all these wonderful assets at their disposal.