by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2023
The Crown of the Netherlands. source: Wikipedia
The Dutch Royal Regalia consists of five items:
- The Crown of the Netherlands
- The Sceptre
- The Orb
- The Sword of State
- The Gonfalon (Banner) of State
Unlike several of the other European monarchies, the Dutch monarchs are not – and never have been – crowned. Upon ascending the throne, the Monarch is inaugurated in a special session of the States General of the Netherlands, held at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. The new King or Queen takes an oath of office in which he/she swears to uphold the Charter and the Constitution of the Netherlands. Although there is no actual crowning, the Regalia is all used in the ceremony. The Crown, Sceptre and Orb are displayed on a credence table situated in front of the new Monarch, along with the Charter and the Constitution. The Sword of State and Gonfalon of State are used in the procession into the Nieuwe Kerk, and are held on the dais on either side of the Monarch during the ceremony..
The current regalia was commissioned by King Willem II in 1840, replacing an earlier set, made of silver, that had been commissioned by King Willem I in 1815.
The Crown of the Netherlands
The Crown of the Netherlands symbolizes the sovereignty of the Netherlands, as well as the dignity of the Monarch as Head of State. It is made of gilded silver, with eight arches, supporting a monde and cross at the top. The crown is adorned with colored stones and pearls.
The Sceptre and The Orb
The Sceptre symbolizes the Sovereign’s authority, while the Orb symbolizes the Sovereign’s territories.
The Sword of State
The Sword of State symbolizes the Sovereign’s power.
The Gonfalon of State
The Gonfalon of State is a banner made of white moiré silk, hung from a gilded wooden spear. The banner is painted with the Coat of Arms of the Netherlands, as decreed in 1815. (The arms have changed since then, but the Gonfalon retains the original arms from 1815).