The moment all children in the Netherlands yearly are waiting for: the arrival of Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas he is usually called here). Halfway November he arrives by steamer with his many helpers. While the youngest children think he is really existing, the elder children still shout “Sinterklaas” or “Piet” and are looking forward to all […]
Soestdijk Palace – A last visit to Queen Juliana’s former residence
For the elder generations of Dutch people Palace Soestdijk is remembered best because of the Queen’s Day celebrations during the reign of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Between 1949 and 1979 the Queen and her ever growing family stood on the steps on the palace, while Dutch people passed them in a long procession that […]
The birth of another Princess – Beatrix had prefered a brother
On Tuesday 18 February 1947 at 2.24am a little princess was born at the Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, The Netherlands. Later that day her father Prince Bernhard told in a radio progarmme that Princess Juliana was doing fine. Apparently both grandmothers – Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and Princess Armgard zur Lippe-Biesterfeld – were present. […]
A Princess is Born – 31 January 1938
It was a cold and stormy day. On Monday 31 January 1938, after waiting for many days, the first child of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands was born, just over a year after their marriage. The official communiqué said: HRH Princess Juliana today, the 31st of January 1938 in the morning at […]