Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands
Encyclopedia
Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands (née
Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst; born 25 May 1966 in Leiden, Netherlands
) is the wife of Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands
, the third son of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands, Jonkheer
van Amsberg.
and Jantien Brinkhorst-Heringa. She has one brother. She is known by her middle name, Laurentien, a portmanteau of her parents' given names.
Princess Laurentien started primary school in Groningen. Her family then moved to The Hague, where she completed her primary education. She spent four years at the Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet, and a year at the Eerste Vrijzinnige Christelijk Lyceum, both in The Hague. In 1984, she passed the Baccalauréat
A examinations at the Lycée français in Tokyo. Her father was working in Japan at the time, being the Permanent Envoy of the European Union.
Princess Laurentien studied History
at the University of Groningen
, where she received her propaedeuse
in 1986. After this she studied at the University of London
were she received her Bachelor of Arts
(BA) degree in Political Science
in 1989 and subsequently at the University of California, Berkeley
, where she obtained her Master
of Journalism
(MJ
) degree in 1991.
, Wim Deetman, in the Oude Raadzaal, Javastraat, The Hague
, on 17 May 2001. The church wedding took place two days later on 19 May in the Grote of St Jacobskerk, with Reverend Carel ter Linden officiating.
Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien have three children:
Her niece, Princess Alexia Juliana Marcela Laurentien of the Netherlands
, second daughter of the Prince of Orange
and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
, received Laurentien as her fourth given name.
She is also the godmother
of Leah Isadora Behn
, the daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
.
Prince Constantijn, Princess Laurentien and their children live in Brussels.
Since her marriage, Laurentien has held the courtesy titles of Princess of the Netherlands and Princess of Orange-Nassau. Princess Laurentien was not created a princess by law, but holds courtesy titles through her marriage, as custom allows a wife to use her husband’s titles. All children of the marriage hold the titles Count
or Countess of Orange-Nassau and Jonkheer
or Jonkvrouw van Amsberg.
By Royal Decree of 15 January 2003, nr. 36, Princess Laurentien was granted her own personal standard.
Official duties:
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst; born 25 May 1966 in Leiden, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
) is the wife of Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands
Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands
Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands is the third and youngest son of Queen Beatrix and the late Prince Claus of the Netherlands. His godparents are King Constantine II of Greece, Prince Aschwin zu Lippe-Biesterfeld, Axel Freiherr von dem Bussche-Streithorst, Max Kohnstamm, and Mrs. C...
, the third son of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands, Jonkheer
Jonkheer
Jonkheer is a Dutch honorific of nobility.-Honorific of nobility:"Jonkheer" or "Jonkvrouw" is literally translated as "young lord" or "young lady". In medieval times such a person was a young and unmarried son or daughter of a high ranking knight or nobleman...
van Amsberg.
Early life
Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst was born in Leiden on 25 May 1966, the daughter of the former Dutch minister of Economic Affairs, Laurens Jan BrinkhorstLaurens Jan Brinkhorst
Laurens Jan Brinkhorst is a Dutch D66 politician.Brinkhorst was an undersecretary of state of foreign affairs and a minister of agriculture. Furthermore he was the leader of the D66-group in the Second Chamber of the Dutch parliament...
and Jantien Brinkhorst-Heringa. She has one brother. She is known by her middle name, Laurentien, a portmanteau of her parents' given names.
Princess Laurentien started primary school in Groningen. Her family then moved to The Hague, where she completed her primary education. She spent four years at the Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet, and a year at the Eerste Vrijzinnige Christelijk Lyceum, both in The Hague. In 1984, she passed the Baccalauréat
Baccalauréat
The baccalauréat , often known in France colloquially as le bac, is an academic qualification which French and international students take at the end of the lycée . It was introduced by Napoleon I in 1808. It is the main diploma required to pursue university studies...
A examinations at the Lycée français in Tokyo. Her father was working in Japan at the time, being the Permanent Envoy of the European Union.
Princess Laurentien studied History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
, where she received her propaedeuse
Propaedeutics
Propaedeutics or propedeutics is a historical term for an introductory course into a discipline: art, science, etc. Etymology: pro- + Greek: paideutikós, "pertaining to teaching"....
in 1986. After this she studied at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
were she received her Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(BA) degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1989 and subsequently at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, where she obtained her Master
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
of Journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
(MJ
MJ
MJ may refer to:*Manufacturers' Junction Railway's reporting mark*Líneas Aéreas Privadas Argentinas' IATA code*Jeep Comanche or MJ, a pickup truck* Millijoule or megajoule , units of energy* MJ, a defunct New York City subway service-People:...
) degree in 1991.
Marriage and children
The engagement of Prince Constantijn and Laurentien Brinkhorst was announced on 16 December 2000. The civil marriage was conducted by the mayor of The HagueThe Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Wim Deetman, in the Oude Raadzaal, Javastraat, The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, on 17 May 2001. The church wedding took place two days later on 19 May in the Grote of St Jacobskerk, with Reverend Carel ter Linden officiating.
Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien have three children:
Issue
| Name | Birth | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|
| Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg Countess Eloise of Oranje-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg , is the first child and daughter of Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands... |
8 June 2002 | The Hague The Hague The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam... |
| Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg , is the second child of Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands and their only son... |
21 March 2004 | The Hague The Hague The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam... |
| Countess Leonore of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg Countess Leonore of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg Countess Leonore of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg , is the third child and second daughter of Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, née Brinkhorst... |
3 June 2006 | The Hague The Hague The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam... |
Her niece, Princess Alexia Juliana Marcela Laurentien of the Netherlands
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the second daughter of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, his spouse...
, second daughter of the Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.-Early life and education:...
, received Laurentien as her fourth given name.
She is also the godmother
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
of Leah Isadora Behn
Leah Isadora Behn
Leah Isadora Behn is the second daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and husband Ari Behn. She was born at the princess's summer residence Bloksbjerg at Hankø island, in the municipality of Fredrikstad....
, the daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway is the only daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. She is fourth in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, after her brother and his two children.-Early life:...
.
Prince Constantijn, Princess Laurentien and their children live in Brussels.
Style, titles and names
- Miss Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst (1966–2001)
- Her Royal Highness Princess Petra Laurentien of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Mrs. van Amsberg (since 17 May 2001)
Since her marriage, Laurentien has held the courtesy titles of Princess of the Netherlands and Princess of Orange-Nassau. Princess Laurentien was not created a princess by law, but holds courtesy titles through her marriage, as custom allows a wife to use her husband’s titles. All children of the marriage hold the titles Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
or Countess of Orange-Nassau and Jonkheer
Jonkheer
Jonkheer is a Dutch honorific of nobility.-Honorific of nobility:"Jonkheer" or "Jonkvrouw" is literally translated as "young lord" or "young lady". In medieval times such a person was a young and unmarried son or daughter of a high ranking knight or nobleman...
or Jonkvrouw van Amsberg.
By Royal Decree of 15 January 2003, nr. 36, Princess Laurentien was granted her own personal standard.
Work as Princess of the Netherlands
Princess Laurentien has a long record of fighting against illiteracy in the Netherlands, which is now to be considered an underestimated problem. Recently, in 2009, she was designated UNESCO Special Envoy on "Literacy for Development" in recognition of her “outstanding commitment to the promotion of education and her profound dedication to the Organization’s ideals and objectives”. In 2010 she was co-recipient of the Major Bosshardt Prize for her work in combating illiteracy.Official duties:
- Spokesperson for "Scouts for Climate" for the World Organization of the Scout Movement's initiative up to COP15 in Copenhagen.
- Vice-President of Fauna & Flora International.
- Chair of the European Cultural Foundation.
- Chair of the Dutch Reading and Writing Foundation (Stichting Lezen & Schrijven)
- Honorary chair of the Dutch Association of Public Libraries (Vereniging van Openbare Bibliotheken)
- Patron of the Dutch language society Genootschap Onze Taal
- Patron of the Netherlands Listening and Braille Library (Nederlandse Luister- en Braillebibliotheek)
- UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development