Some articles in the Dutch Constitution regarding the Succession
to the throne
- Article 24
- The title to the Throne shall be hereditary and shall vest in the legitimate
descendants of King William I, Prince of Orange-Nassau.
-
- Article 25
- On the death of the King, the title to the Throne shall pass by hereditary
succession to the King's legitimate descendants in order of seniority,
the same rule governing succession by the issue of descendants who predecease
the King. If the King has no descendants, the title to the Throne shall
pass in the same way 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.
-
- Article 26
- For the purposes of hereditary succession, the child of a woman pregnant
at the moment of the death of the King shall be deemed already born. If
it is stillborn it shall be deemed to have never existed.
-
- Article 27
- Hereditary succession to the Throne in the event of abdication shall
take place according to the rules set out in the above articles. Children
born after an abdication and their descendants shall be excluded from the
hereditary succession.
-
- Article 28
- (1) The King shall be deemed to have abdicated if he contracts a marriage
without having obtained approval by Act of Parliament.
- (2) Anyone in line of succession to the Throne who contracts such a
marriage shall be excluded from the hereditary succession, together with
any children born of the marriage and their issue.
- (3) The two Chambers of the Parliament (Parliament) shall meet to consider
and decide upon a Bill for granting such approval in joint session.
-
- Article 29
- (1) One or more persons may be excluded from the hereditary succession
by Act of Parliament if exceptional circumstances necessitate.
- (2) The Bill for this purpose shall be presented by or on behalf of
the King. The two Chambers of the Parliament shall consider and decide
upon the matter in joint session. Such a Bill shall be passed only if at
least two-thirds of the votes cast are in favor.
-
- Article 30
- (1) A successor to the Throne may be appointed by Act of Parliament
if it appears that there will otherwise be no successor. The Bill shall
be presented by or on behalf of the King, upon which the Chambers shall
be dissolved. The newly convened Chambers shall discuss and decide upon
the matter in joint session. Such a Bill shall be passed only if at least
two-thirds of the votes cast are in favor.
- (2) The Chambers shall be dissolved if there is no successor on the
death or abdication of the King. The newly convened Chambers shall meet
in joint session within four months of the decease or abdication in order
to decide on the appointment of a King. They may appoint a successor only
if at least two-thirds of the votes cast are in favor.
-
- Article 31
- (1) An appointed King may be succeeded only by his legitimate descendants
by virtue of hereditary succession.
- (2) The provisions on hereditary succession and the first paragraph
of this article shall apply by analogy to an appointed successor who has
not yet become King.
-
- Article 32
- Upon assuming the royal prerogative the King shall be sworn in and
inaugurated as soon as possible in the capital city, Amsterdam, at a public
and joint session of the two Chambers of the Parliament. The King shall
swear or promise allegiance to the Constitution and that he will faithfully
discharge his duties. Specific rules shall be laid down by Act of Parliament.
-
- Article 33
- The King shall not exercise the royal prerogative before attaining
the age of eighteen.
-
- Article 34
- The guardianship of a King who is a minor shall be regulated by Act
of Parliament. The two Chambers of the Parliament shall meet in joint session
to consider and decide upon the matter.
-
- Article 35
- (1) If the Council of Ministers is of the opinion that the King is
unable to exercise the royal prerogative it shall inform the two Chambers
of the Parliament accordingly and shall also present to them the recommendation
it has requested from the Council of State. The two Chambers of the Parliament
shall then meet in joint session.
- (2) If the two Chambers of the Parliament share this opinion, they
shall then resolve that the King is unable to exercise the royal prerogative.
This resolution shall be made public on the instructions of the President
of the joint session and shall enter into force immediately.
- (3) As soon as the King regains the ability to exercise the royal prerogative,
notice of the fact shall be given in an Act of Parliament. The two Chambers
of the Parliament shall consider and decide upon the matter in joint session.
The King shall resume the exercise of the royal prerogative as soon as
the Act has been made public.
- (4) If it has been resolved that the King is unable to exercise the
royal prerogative, guardianship over his person shall, if necessary, be
regulated by Act of Parliament. The two Chambers of the Parliament shall
consider and decide upon the matter in joint session.
-
- Article 36
- The King may temporarily relinquish the exercise of the royal prerogative
and resume the exercise thereof pursuant to Act of Parliament. The relevant
Bill shall be presented by or on behalf of the King. The two Chambers of
the Parliament shall consider and decide upon the matter in joint session.
-
- Article 37
- (1) The royal prerogative shall be exercised by a Regent:
- (a) until the King has attained the age of eighteen;
- (b) if the title to the Throne may vest in an unborn child;
- (c) if it has been resolved that the King is unable to exercise the
royal prerogative;
- (d) if the King has temporarily relinquished the exercise of the royal
prerogative;
- (e) in the absence of a successor following the death or abdication
of the King.
- (2) The Regent shall be appointed by Act of Parliament. The two Chambers
of the Parliament shall consider and decide upon the matter in joint session.
- (3) In the cases specified in Paragraph (1)(c) and (d) above, the descendant
of the King who is the heir presumptive shall become Regent by right if
he has attained the age of eighteen.
- (4) The Regent shall swear or promise allegiance to the Constitution
and that he will faithfully discharge his duties before the two Chambers
of Parliament meeting in joint session. Rules regarding the office of Regent
shall be made by Act of Parliament, which may contain provisions for succession
and replacement. The two Chambers of the Parliament shall consider and
decide upon the matter in joint session.
- (5) Articles 35 and 36 shall apply by analogy to the Regent.
-
- Article 38
- The royal prerogative shall be exercised by the Council of State until
such time as alternative provision is made for the exercise of such power.
-
- Article 39
- Membership of the Royal House shall be regulated by Act of Parliament.