Christening of Pieter Van Vollenhoven

Pieter, son of Prince Pieter-Christiaan and Princess Anita, was baptized today in the chapel of the Paleis Het Loo Nationaal Museum in Apeldoorn. His godparents are Prince Maurits, prof. mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven, Anouk van Doorn and Sandra Chollet. He is the grandson of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands.

Photo: Frank van Beek

Princess Annette Gives Birth to Her Third Child

The Dutch Royal House has announced that Princess Annette, wife of Prince Bernhard, gave birth to a son this morning. Benjamin Pieter Floris van Vollenhoven was born at 8:30 am (local time) at the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis in Amsterdam. He weighed 3250 grams (7.16 lbs). Benjamin is the eighth grandchild for Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and prof. mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven.

Photo: Ruud Taal

Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène Release New Photos of Family

The Dutch Royal House recently released some new family photos of Prince Maurits, Princess Marilène and their three children: Anna (6), Lucas (5) and Felicia (2). The photographs were taken by Frank van Beek.

The usually low-profile couple have made several appearances this month. Just last week, Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène accompanied Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and prof. mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven to the Holland America Friendship Foundation gala which was held at the Kurhaus Hotel in Scheveningen. His parents received an award at the gala from the foundation for their commitment towards amicable relations between the Netherlands and the United States. Upon receiving the award on February 11th, Princess Margriet quipped, “one of the nicer things in life when one grows older is that one gets medals and awards without requiring a physical effort which is very reassuring for us tonight.”

Besides their recent appearances, Princess Marilène also celebrated her 38th birthday on February 4th.


Photos: Frank van Beek

Princess Margriet Awarded for Goodwill by the Holland America Friendship Foundation

Last night, Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and her husband, prof. mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven were the recipients of an award from the Holland America Friendship Foundation at the “Night of the Stars” gala for their commitment towards amicable relations between the Netherlands and the United States. The Holland America Friendship Foundation has reinforced friendship ties via educational and cultural areas with organizations such as the Fulbright Center, the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute and the John Adams Institute.

Photo: ANP

Birthday Celebrations for Princess Margriet and Queen Beatrix

Special celebrations are planned for the 70th birthday of Queen Beatrix (born January 31, 1938) and the 65th birthday of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands. Tomorrow, Margriet and her family will attend a unique ballet performance danced by the Introdans and Introdans Ensemble for Youth in honour of her birthday at the Orpheus in Apeldoorn. On February 1st, she and Queen Beatrix will continue celebrating their birthdays with an appearance at the Royal Theater Carré in Amsterdam to watch a performance of music and dance by students of the Netherlands conservatories and schools for drama and the arts.

Margriet Francisca, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau and Princess of Lippe-Biesterveld was born on January 19, 1943 at the Ottawa Civic Hospital in Canada. Though the delivery room has been converted into an office, a plaque on the wall still denotes her birthplace. The significance of her birth was the Canadian government sanctioned the birthing room as temporary Dutch territory with the following special provision: “Any place in Canada within which Her Royal Highness the Princess Juliana of the Netherlands may be confined shall, for the period of the lying-in and to the extent of actual occupation for such purpose, be extra-territorial, and for such purpose Her Royal Highness the Princess Juliana and any child that may be born shall be accorded immunity from criminal, civil and military jurisdiction, whether Dominion or Provincial.” In the aftermath of the Second World War, Margriet’s family returned to the Netherlands when she was two years old.

Princess Margriet married Pieter van Vollenhoven on January 10, 1967 and gave birth to four sons: Prince Maurits, Prince Bernhard, Prince Pieter-Christiaan and Prince Floris. Currently, she and Pieter have seven grandchildren: Anna, Lucas, Felicia, Isabella, Samuel, Emma and Magali. Their daughter-in-law, Princess Annette (wife of Prince Bernhard), is due to give them their eight grandchild in the spring.

Among her many duties officiated to her, Princess Margriet is Vice-Chair of the Netherlands Red Cross, a patron of the National Union of Volunteers, the New York-based Netherland-America Foundation, and the Netherlands American Amity Trust. Avocationally, she loves reading, theatre, riding, skating, skiing and walking.

In lieu of the 65th birthday of Princess Margriet, the Governor General of Canada, Michaelle Jean, extended her best wishes with the following statement.

My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, our daughter, Marie-Eden, and I join with all Canadians in sending our very best wishes to Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands on the occasion of her 65th birthday.

Canada and the Netherlands have long shared a close relationship, which has been strengthened by Princess Margriet's personal ties to Canada. Since her birth in Ottawa during the Second World War, the Princess has held a special place in the hearts of Canadians.

Her Royal Highness' work on behalf of her country is exemplary and so is her dedication to numerous humanitarian causes.

Every spring, thousands of tulip bulbs sent from the Netherlands blossom throughout the national capital. This special gift commemorates Canada's role in the liberation of the Dutch people, and is symbolic of the personal friendship Canada shares with the Princess and her fellow citizens.

It is a pleasure to extend to Princess Margriet my hope for a wonderful birthday celebration with family and friends.

Michaelle Jean

For those wishing to extend birthday salutations to Princess Margriet (sorry, it is in Dutch only), visit the Dutch Royal House website.

Photos: RVD

Pieter, Maurits and Marilène Attend Peter Stuyvesant Ball in New York

Professor mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven, husband of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, attended the 26th Peter Stuyvesant Ball at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Manhattan’s 42nd Street in New York. He was accompanied by his son, Prince Maurits and his daughter-in-law, Princess Marilène. The event took place on November 16th and was themed the “Daffodil Ball.” The ball is hosted by the Netherland-America Foundation. The foundation’s main objective is to build “on the enduring heritage and values shared between the peoples of the Netherlands and the United States” and “seeks to further strengthen the bonds between {the} two countries through exchange in the arts, sciences, education, business and public affairs.” Princess Margriet and Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven are patrons of the NAF.

Dutch Royal House Announces Birth of Daughter for Prince Floris and Princess Aimée

This morning, Princess Aimée, the wife of Prince Floris, gave birth to a daughter at the VU hospital in Amsterdam. Magali Margriet Eleonoor is the first child for the couple. The baby was born at 4:37 am local time and weighed 3850 grams (8.5 lbs.). Magali is the seventh grandchild for Princess Margriet and professor mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven, the parents of Prince Floris.

Princess Annette Expecting Third Child

The Dutch Royal House has announced that Princess Annette and Prince Bernhard are expecting their third child.The predicted date is March 2008. The princess is the daughter-in-law of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and professor mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven. Annette and Bernhard have one daughter and one son. Isabella Lily Juliana is five years old and Samuel Bernhard Louis is three years old.

Photo: ANP

40th Wedding Anniversary for Princess Margriet and Professor Pieter

Today is the 40th wedding anniversary for Princess Margriet and professor mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven. The couple’s engagement was announced on March 10, 1965 and their wedding took place in the Hague on January 10, 1967. Margriet and Pieter are the parents of four princes: Maurits, Bernhard, Pieter-Christiaan and Floris. Presently, they have six grandchildren: Anastasia (Anna), Lucas, Isabella, Samuel, Felicia and Emma.