HRH Prince Willem-Alexander |
HRH Princess Máxima |
HRH Sovereign Prince Willem I | December 2nd, 1813 | March 16th, 1815 |
HM King Willem I | March 16th, 1815 | October 7th, 1840 (abdicated) |
HM King Willem II | October 7th, 1840 | March 17th, 1849 |
HM King Willem III | March 17th, 1849 | November 23rd, 1890 |
HM Queen Wilhelmina | November 23rd, 1890 | September 4th, 1948 (abdicated) |
HM Queen Juliana | September 4th, 1948 | April 30th, 1980 (abdicated) |
HM Queen Beatrix | April 30th, 1980 |
The succession to the Throne of the Netherlands is regulated by the Constitution. The succession
was semi-salic until 1923, male preferred primogeniture between 1923-1983 and absolute primogeniture since 1983.
Until 1923 eligible to succeed were the legitimate descendants of HH Prince Willem IV of Orange and Nassau. Since 1983
eligible to succeed are the legitimate descendants of HM King Willem I, Prince of Orange-Nassau. If the King has no
descendants, the title to the Throne shall pass to the legitimate descendants of the King's parent and then of his
grandparent who are in the line of succession but are not further removed from the deceased King than the third degree of
consanguinity.
Children born after an abdication of the King and their descendants are excluded from the succession.
Anyone in line of succession to the Throne who contracts a marriage without having obtained approval by Act of Parliament
is excluded from the succession, together with any children born of the marriage and their issue.
One or more persons may be excluded from the hereditary succession by Act of Parliament if exceptional circumstances
necessitate.
A person eligible to succeed is not allowed to renounce his/her right of succession.
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Last updated: March 25th, 2008.