The regalia of the Netherlands consists of a number of items symbolising the Dutch monarch's authority and dignity. In comparison to many European monarchies'

regalia Regalia is a Latin plurale tantum word that has different definitions. In one rare definition, it refers to the exclusive privileges of a sovereign. The word originally referred to the elaborate formal dress and dress accessories of a sovereign ...

, the Dutch regalia are relatively new: having been commissioned by King William II in 1840. An earlier, more modest set of regalia made of silver was commissioned by King William I in 1815. Dutch monarchs are not and have never been crowned but are instead sworn-in and inaugurated in a ceremony at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. The regalia (not including the royal mantle) are never bestowed upon or worn by the monarch. Instead, the crown, sceptre, and orb are placed on what is called a

credence table A credence table is a small side table in the sanctuary of a Christian church which is used in the celebration of the Eucharist. (Latin ''credens, -entis'', believer). The credence table is usually placed near the wall on the epistle (south) sid ...

during the ceremony while the sword and standard are carried by different officials. A number of jewellery worn by the Dutch royal family are termed as the '' Crown Jewels'' and are not part of the regalia.

Regalia

The regalia of the Netherlands consist of the following: * the

crown A crown is a traditional form of head adornment, or hat, worn by monarchs as a symbol of their power and dignity. A crown is often, by extension, a symbol of the monarch's government or items endorsed by it. The word itself is used, partic ...

, symbolising the

sovereignty Sovereignty is the defining authority within individual consciousness, social construct, or territory. Sovereignty entails hierarchy within the state, as well as external autonomy for states. In any state, sovereignty is assigned to the perso ...

of the

Kingdom of the Netherlands , national_anthem = ) , image_map = Kingdom of the Netherlands (orthographic projection).svg , map_width = 250px , image_map2 = File:KonDerNed-10-10-10.png , map_caption2 = Map of the four constituent countries shown to scale , capital = ...

, which currently consists of the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

in Western Europe and three overseas countries in the Caribbean:

Curaçao Curaçao ( ; ; pap, Kòrsou, ), officially the Country of Curaçao ( nl, Land Curaçao; pap, Pais Kòrsou), is a Lesser Antilles island country in the southern Caribbean Sea and the Dutch Caribbean region, about north of the Venezuela coast ...

Sint Maarten Sint Maarten () is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean. With a population of 41,486 as of January 2019 on an area of , it encompasses the southern 44% of the divided island of Saint Martin, while the north ...

and

Aruba Aruba ( , , ), officially the Country of Aruba ( nl, Land Aruba; pap, Pais Aruba) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands physically located in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea, about north of the Venezuela peninsula of ...

. It also symbolises the dignity of the Sovereign as

head of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...

. The renowned Amsterdam jewelry firm Bonebakker was commissioned to make the crown. The execution were left to master gold- and silversmith Theodorus Gerardus Bentvelt. It is made of gilded silver, adorned with coloured stones and imitations of pearls, and has eight arches with a

monde A ''monde'', meaning 'world' in French, is an orb located near the top of a crown. It represents, as the name suggests, the world that the monarch rules. It is the point at which a crown's half arches meet. It is usually topped off either w ...

and cross at the top. * the

sceptre A sceptre is a staff or wand held in the hand by a ruling monarch as an item of royal or imperial insignia. Figuratively, it means royal or imperial authority or sovereignty. Antiquity Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia The ''Was'' and other ...

, symbolising the reigning King or Queen's authority; * the orb, symbolising the Sovereign territory; Both sceptre and orb were made by court jeweler Meijer from The Hague. * the sword of state, standing for the Monarch's power; * the gonfalon of state (''Rijksvaandel'' or ''Rijksbanier''), a banner of white moiré silk suspended from a

gilded Gilding is a decorative technique for applying a very thin coating of gold over solid surfaces such as metal (most common), wood, porcelain, or stone. A gilded object is also described as "gilt". Where metal is gilded, the metal below was tradi ...

spear A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fasten ...

, painted with the

coat of arms of the Netherlands The coat of arms of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was originally adopted in 1815 and later modified in 1907. The arms are a composite of the arms of the former Dutch Republic and the arms of the House of Nassau, it features a checkered shield wit ...

as decreed on 24 August 1815, symbolising the nation. The arms of the Netherlands have changed since 1815, but the depiction on the gonfalon has not. The artwork was by

Bartholomeus van Hove Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove (October 28, 1790 in The Hague – November 8, 1880 in The Hague) was a Dutch painter and the father of Hubertus van Hove. He played an important role in the development of 19th-century painting by his many disc ...

. During the inauguration, the monarch also wears a ''royal mantle'' ( nl, koningsmantel). The mantle, which is not part of the regalia, is made of purple velvet and is trimmed with ermine. 83 lions, embroidered in gold, adorn the mantle. The mantle was first used in 1815 and has been redesigned several times to fit the various monarchs and reflect the changing fashions. The lions are old and were part of King William I'st mantle. Part of the fur has been renewed or replaced and in 1948 the velvet was in such a poor condition that the Swiss couturier who was responsible for its adaptation had no choice but to replace it with a modern fabric.

Usage

Dutch monarchs have never been physically crowned. During royal inaugurations, the crown, sceptre and orb are displayed on a table in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, where the inaugurations take place. The Gonfalon of State and Sword of State are carried in the royal procession from

Dam Palace The Royal Palace of Amsterdam in Amsterdam (Dutch: ''Koninklijk Paleis van Amsterdam'' or ) is one of three palaces in the Netherlands which are at the disposal of the monarch by Act of Parliament. It is situated on the west side of Dam Square i ...

to the Church and are held on either side of the royal dais in the Church during the swearing in ceremony.Van Cruyningen, ''passim''.

References

Literature

* Dieuwke Grĳpma; ''Kleren voor de elite'', 1999

External links

Dutch Royal House

Pictures from the National Archive Image Database
{{Crown jewels by country

Dutch monarchy National symbols of the Netherlands