Frequently asked questions
How many people were invited to attend the service? Who were they? Who invited them?
The Nieuwe Kerk can accommodate 1900 people. Friends, relatives, members of royal houses and dignitaries from the Kingdom of the Netherlands were invited to attend. The invitations were extended by or on behalf of Her Majesty.
Is the royal vault open to the public?
No, it is never open.
When, where and how did the Prince die?
On Sunday 6 October at 19.00 at the AMC university hospital in Amsterdam. According to his doctors, the Prince died as a result of Parkinson’s disease and pneumonia.
What were the decorations on the cushions in the chapelle ardente?
The Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands is displayed on the left, the Personal Flag of His Royal Highness Prince Claus of the Netherlands is in the centre, and on the right are the Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange and the Medal of the Nijmegen Vierdaagse. The Grand Crosses are the two highest civil decorations in the Netherlands. The Prince completed the Vierdaagse – the four-day walking marathon - in 1967.
These cushions with the decorations were also put on the coffin in the Nieuwe Kerk.
What are the names of Prince Claus’s closest relatives?
The Prince had five sisters: Sigrid, married to Mr Bernd Jencquel Rixa, married to Dr Peter Ahrens Barbara, married to Mr Ernst Günther Haarhaus Theda, married to Baron Karl von Friesen Christina, married to Baron Hans Hubertus von der Recke. His sister Margit, who was married to Mr Eberhardt Grubitz, died in 1988. All the Prince’s sisters have children. His father, Claus Felix von Amsberg, died in 1953 at the age of 63. His mother, Gosta von Amsberg-Freiin von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen, died in 1996, aged 94.
Where can I offer condolences?
Letters to Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange and Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima should be addressed to: Noordeinde Palace, Postbus 30412, 2500 GK The Hague. Envelopes should be marked, as appropriate: Her Majesty/His Royal Highness/Her Royal Highness/Their Royal Highnesses.
Did the government and parliament hold an official memorial ceremony?
The Senate and the House of Representatives conducted a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Knights on Wednesday 9 October. This special session was led by the President of the Senate. Speeches were given by the Prime Minister and the Presidents of the Senate and House of Representatives. The Prime Minister’s speech is posted on this website.
Invitations to the ceremony were extended to the members of the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom, the State Secretaries, the members of the Council of State and the Court of Audit, the National Ombudsman, the Director of the Office of HM the Queen, the Ministers of State, the members of the Supreme Court, the Queen’s Commissioners, the members of the Civil Orders Advisory Commission, the Mayor of The Hague, the Chief of Defence Staff and Commanders in Chief, and the Governor of the Residency.
Was the Court in mourning? What does that involve?
The Court has been in deep mourning from the time of Prince Claus’s death. The Queen, the Prince of Orange and other members of the Royal House have cancelled all public engagements until the day after the funeral. They probably will not resume such engagements before 1 November. A black pennant was flown with the Royal Standard until the end of the day of the funeral.
Has a period of national mourning been declared?
The Netherlands does not observe periods of official national mourning. The Prime Minister decides what conventions are to be observed on any given occasion.
Should public events, competitive events, celebrations and marriages be postponed until after the funeral?
Events organised by private individuals and weddings that had already been arranged could go ahead as planned. However, all festive events organised by the government, i.e. official events, were postponed from the time of the Prince’s death until the funeral had taken place. Other official events were solemn. Awards of royal honours were postponed, unless the mayor concerned did see good reason for presenting them, for instance because of the recipient’s health.
Did shops had to close on the day of the funeral?
No, because it was not a day of national mourning.
Was the day of the funeral a public holiday?
No, because it was not a day of national mourning.
Why was the funeral being held in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft?
It is traditional for members of the House of Orange-Nassau to be buried in the Nieuwe Kerk. The first to be buried there was Prince Willem of Orange, in 1584.
Which other members of the House of Orange-Nassau are buried in the Royal Vault in the Nieuwe Kerk?
The stadholders and monarchs of the House of Orange-Nassau, and members of their immediate families. The only exception is Stadholder-King William III, who is buried in London.
Where exactly was Prince Claus’s coffin laid in the Royal Vault? Who lies beside him?
The coffin was laid in the section containing the remains of King Willem III (1890), Queen Emma (1934), Prince Hendrik (1934) and Queen Wilhelmina (1962).