Tag: dutch kingdom

Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands


Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

Prince Willem-Alexander has become king of the Netherlands following the abdication of his 75-year-old mother.

Born on 27 April 1967 as the first child of Queen Beatrix and the late Prince Claus, the Prince of Orange is the first male head of state of the Netherlands since 1890.

Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; is now the King of the Netherlands and the Dutch dependencies of Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten, and head of the Dutch royal house and the House of Amsberg. He is the first male monarch of the Netherlands since the death of William III in 1890.

Willem-Alexander was born in Utrecht and is the eldest child of Princess Beatrix and Claus von Amsberg. Later to be joined by brothers Johan Friso and Constantijn, who he spent his early years with at Drakensteyn Castle.

He became Prince of Orange and heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands on 30 April 1980, when his mother became Queen regnant, and he ascended to the throne on 30 April 2013 when his mother abdicated.

Beginning his education in the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander was later moved to the Atlantic College in Wales following problems with his parents and increasing rebelliousness, eventually gaining an International Baccalaureate in 1985.
After his obligatory military service, Willem-Alexander studied history at Leiden University, gaining his degree in 1993.
It was at university that the future king built an image in the Dutch media as a hard-partying royal, earning him the nickname ‘Prince of Pils’, after a particular brand of beer.

After his graduation, Willem-Alexander started to shake off his negative image by travelling across the Netherlands; an experience he claims enabled him to get to know his country “in and out”.
In 1998, the Prince of Orange was given the nod to become a member of the International Olympic Committee, later gaining a role on the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board due to his work in water management.
It was his meeting with Maxima in 1999, and their subsequent marriage in February 2002, that eventually changed his image into that of a serious royal and family man, worthy of the Dutch throne.
The couple’s marriage had initially been deemed controversial, since Maxima’s father, Jorge, was a minister during a brutal military dictatorship in Argentina, between 1979 and 1981.
But, the couple eventually gained wide popularity around the Netherlands with their three young daughters, Catharina-Amalia, 9, Alexia, 7, and Ariana, 5, becoming adored by the Dutch media, frequently posing with their parents for official photoshoots.
Seen as more progressive and closer to ordinary people than even his mother, Willem-Alexander has further stamped modernity on the Dutch royal family through his visits abroad and his posts on an online blog.
According to reports, Willem Alexander’s sporting activities include tennis, running, skiing, sailing, golf, horse riding, skating and diving. In 1992, he also took part in the New York marathon.

The prince has said that as king he wants to strike a balance between upholding tradition and embracing change, which could include accepting a smaller role in Dutch politics.

Willem-Alexander’s title, Prince of Orange, derives from the former Principality of Orange in southern France.

It was held by William of Orange (1533-1584), who led the revolt against the Spanish that resulted in the creation of the Netherlands.

But the prince has indicated that he attaches little importance to titles. Instead of calling him “Majesty” once he is king, he recently said that people “can address me the way they want”.

“I’m not a protocol fetishist,” he told Dutch TV. “It’s more important to me that people feel at ease when I’m with them.”

In a TV interview, Willem-Alexander said he wanted to be a king who “adheres to tradition” and who can also “unite, represent and encourage society”.

“The most important thing is for the king and the monarchy to pick up their changing role well and to still be able to be there as a symbol of continuity and unity” – King Willem-Alexander

But he added that the only thing that is constant about a monarchy is that “it always moves with society”.

The prince made it clear that it would be acceptable to him if MPs decided that the monarchy should become purely ceremonial. “Parliament is the highest body in the Netherlands,” he said.

Asked what he would like to be remembered for at the end of his reign, he said that “the most important thing is for the king and the monarchy to pick up their changing role well and to still be able to be there as a symbol of continuity and unity”.

The Dutch affairs editor of the weekly magazine Elsevier, Gertjan van Schoonhoven, said the prince’s remarks were intended to show that he and his wife “know their place”.

They royal couple can draw comfort from a recent opinion poll which suggests that for three quarters of the Dutch there is no question of abolishing the monarchy. Two thirds said they had confidence in King Willem-Alexander, while only 12% said they had confidence in politicians.

On TV, the prince said he had no problem with protests against the monarchy, including on the day of his investiture. “Protest is always allowed,” he said.

by WENSHOW

Inskripshon pa Koningsspelen


Inskripshon pa Koningsspelen

Inskripshon pa ‘Koningsspelen’ te ku 9 di aprel próksimo

Willemstad – Skolnan di fundeshi ku ke partisipá na ‘Koningsspelen’ dia 26 di aprel por inskribí te ku djamars 9 di aprel próksimo. Esaki Komishon Nashonal Inougurashon Kòrsou ta duna di konosé. ‘Koningsspelen’ ta den kuadro di inougurashon real di Prens Willem-Alexander i Prinses Máxima dia 30 di aprel próksimo.

Prens Willem-Alexander ta kumpli aña dia 27 di aprel. El a ekspresá e deseo pa organisá un dia deportivo pa tur mucha di skol básiko (skol di fundeshi na Kòrsou). En konekshon ku e deseo aki djabièrnè 26 di aprel skolnan di fundeshi por partisipá na ‘Koningsspelen’. Esaki ta un dia deportivo ku kada skol por organisá su mes aktividatnan pa e alumnonan. Ku e aktividat aki ke trese un laso entre muchanan, mayornan i dosentenan. Prensès Máxima ta habri e ‘Koningsspelen’ riba e islanan den reino pa medio di un transmishon live for di Hulanda.

Tur alumno di e skolnan ku ta partisipá ta haña un desayuno mainta. Skolnan ku ta partisipá ta risibí un bale di 350 florin pa por kumpra material deportivo pa usa durante di ‘Koningsspelen’.

Bishita real
Entre e skolnan di fundeshi ku partisipá ta skohe unu ku ta risibí bishita di Rei Willem-Alexander i Reina Máxima durante nan biahe pa Kòrsou na novèmber próksimo.

Inskripshon
Partisipashon ta kompletamente grátis. Entre tantu mayoria skol di fundeshi a risibí un formulario di inskripshon digital i por inskribí serka Thakaidzwa Doran, kordinadó di ‘Koningsspelen’. Skolnan por manda nan inskripshon mas tardá djamars 9 di aprel pa emailadrès curacaokonginsspelen@hotmail.com. Pa mas informashon por bèl riba number di telefòn 515-2371.

by WENSHOW

Andruw Jones a father figure to the Dutch in World Baseball Classic


Andruw Jones a father figure to the Dutch in World Baseball Classic

SAN FRANCISCO – Andruw Jones, father figure.

Somehow it doesn’t seem right to put that name and that description in the same sentence.

Maturity was one of the biggest reasons why Jones went from what once looked a Hall of Fame lock with the Atlanta Braves – he made five All-Star Game appearances and won eight Gold Gloves in 12 seasons with them — to a journeyman who played with four major-league teams in the last five seasons.

Jones has moved on to Japan this year and will play for the Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Pacific League.

Jones’ career took a downward turn after he signed a two-year, $36.2-million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in the 2007-08 offseason and began to gain weight. Even during the good teams in Atlanta, Jones was occasionally benched by Braves manager Bobby Cox for lackadaisical play.

More recently, Jones was arrested on Christmas Day and charged with assault after his wife, Nicole, accused him of dragging her down a staircase by her ankles and threatening to kill her.

Nicole filed for divorce one week after the alleged incident; the Golden Eagles have said they will honor their contract with Jones.

Yet, at 35, Jones has indeed become the father figure of the Netherlands team that faced the Dominican Republic last night in a semifinal of the World Baseball Classic at AT&T Park. The winners Dominican Republic will face Puerto Rico in the championship game Tuesday (tonight).

It’s also an odd turnabout for a player originally known for his youth – hitting two home runs at Yankee Stadium as a 19-year-old in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series.

“His maturity has really shown up in this tournament,” Netherlands manager Hensley Meulens said. “He’s taken guys under his wing. He’s showing leadership on and off the field. ”

Jones, a native of the Dutch territory of Curacao, has gone 8-for-23 (.348) in seven games while drawing five walks.

“He’s played with a lot of heart, with a lot of determination, and he’s leading by example on the field, and that’s easier to have guys follow you when you do that,” said Meulens, the San Francisco Giants’ hitting coach. “When you’re a star and you perform on the field, it’s easier to get guys to believe what you’re saying and that’s been the case.”

Jones laughed when asked about the father figure role on a team that has reached the semifinal round of the WBC for the first time.

“Well, I don’t want to be their father, because I would have to take care of a lot of kids,” Jones said with a smile “I’m proud of them. I’m proud of all these guys. We managed to get them together and make things happen. I know all the guys that say all those good things, they probably grew up watching me play and wanted to be at the same stage that I am.”

Despite his late-career slide, Jones remains the Babe Ruth of Curacao, where the majority of Dutch players reside. Texas Rangers infielder Jurickson Profar – considered the top prospect in baseball by most analysts – is one of those players who idolized Jones.

“We all grew up watching him. Every player,” said the 20-year-old Profar, who was added to the Netherlands roster for the final round. “He was the only one there when I grew up. So everyone was watching him and everyone wanted to be like him.”

Credits to John Perrotto, Special for USA TODAY Sports

by WENSHOW

Andruw Jones a father figure to the Dutch in World Baseball Classic


Andruw Jones a father figure to the Dutch in World Baseball Classic

SAN FRANCISCO – Andruw Jones, father figure.

Somehow it doesn’t seem right to put that name and that description in the same sentence.

Maturity was one of the biggest reasons why Jones went from what once looked a Hall of Fame lock with the Atlanta Braves – he made five All-Star Game appearances and won eight Gold Gloves in 12 seasons with them — to a journeyman who played with four major-league teams in the last five seasons.

Jones has moved on to Japan this year and will play for the Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Pacific League.

Jones’ career took a downward turn after he signed a two-year, $36.2-million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in the 2007-08 offseason and began to gain weight. Even during the good teams in Atlanta, Jones was occasionally benched by Braves manager Bobby Cox for lackadaisical play.

More recently, Jones was arrested on Christmas Day and charged with assault after his wife, Nicole, accused him of dragging her down a staircase by her ankles and threatening to kill her.

Nicole filed for divorce one week after the alleged incident; the Golden Eagles have said they will honor their contract with Jones.

Yet, at 35, Jones has indeed become the father figure of the Netherlands team that faced the Dominican Republic last night in a semifinal of the World Baseball Classic at AT&T Park. The winners Dominican Republic will face Puerto Rico in the championship game Tuesday (tonight).

It’s also an odd turnabout for a player originally known for his youth – hitting two home runs at Yankee Stadium as a 19-year-old in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series.

“His maturity has really shown up in this tournament,” Netherlands manager Hensley Meulens said. “He’s taken guys under his wing. He’s showing leadership on and off the field. ”

Jones, a native of the Dutch territory of Curacao, has gone 8-for-23 (.348) in seven games while drawing five walks.

“He’s played with a lot of heart, with a lot of determination, and he’s leading by example on the field, and that’s easier to have guys follow you when you do that,” said Meulens, the San Francisco Giants’ hitting coach. “When you’re a star and you perform on the field, it’s easier to get guys to believe what you’re saying and that’s been the case.”

Jones laughed when asked about the father figure role on a team that has reached the semifinal round of the WBC for the first time.

“Well, I don’t want to be their father, because I would have to take care of a lot of kids,” Jones said with a smile “I’m proud of them. I’m proud of all these guys. We managed to get them together and make things happen. I know all the guys that say all those good things, they probably grew up watching me play and wanted to be at the same stage that I am.”

Despite his late-career slide, Jones remains the Babe Ruth of Curacao, where the majority of Dutch players reside. Texas Rangers infielder Jurickson Profar – considered the top prospect in baseball by most analysts – is one of those players who idolized Jones.

“We all grew up watching him. Every player,” said the 20-year-old Profar, who was added to the Netherlands roster for the final round. “He was the only one there when I grew up. So everyone was watching him and everyone wanted to be like him.”

Credits to John Perrotto, Special for USA TODAY Sports

by WENSHOW