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| Margriet of the Netherlands | |
|---|---|
| Name | Margriet |
| Caption | Princess Margriet of the Netherlands |
| Birth date | 19 January 1943 |
| Birth place | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| House | Orange-Nassau |
| Full name | Margriet Francisca of the Netherlands |
| Father | Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld |
| Mother | Juliana of the Netherlands |
| Spouse | Pieter van Vollenhoven |
| Children | Princes Maurits, Bernhard, Pieter-Christiaan, Floris |
Margriet of the Netherlands is a member of the Dutch Royal House of Orange-Nassau born in Ottawa during World War II. As a daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, she has played roles in charitable, cultural, and public spheres associated with institutions such as the Netherlands Red Cross, UNESCO, and the European Foundation Centre. Over decades she has combined dynastic duties with interests in healthcare, disaster relief, and reconstruction, engaging with organizations including the International Committee of the Red Cross, World Health Organization, and United Nations agencies.
Margriet was born in Ottawa on 19 January 1943 at the Clarence Street maternity ward while the Dutch royal family resided in exile following the German occupation of the Netherlands. Her birth certificate was issued under a special measure with the involvement of the Governor General of Canada to ensure Dutch citizenship. She is the third daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld and sister to Beatrix of the Netherlands, Princess Irene of the Netherlands, and Princess Christina. The family's wartime exile linked them to Allied governments and institutions such as the Government of the Netherlands in exile, the Canadian government, and the Free Dutch Forces. Her birthplace later became a symbol cited by Dutch-Canadian relations and commemorated by visits from members of the Royal House of Orange-Nassau and officials from Parliament of Canada and the Province of Ontario.
Margriet received education through institutions and programs connected with the House of Orange-Nassau and national bodies like the Dutch Ministry of Education. She pursued studies related to languages, culture, and public service, engaging with universities and adult-education initiatives in the Netherlands, interacting with scholars from Leiden University, University of Amsterdam, and networks connected to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1967 she married Pieter van Vollenhoven, a figure associated with aviation, safety, and public administration; the marriage connected the royal lineage to professional circles including the Royal Netherlands Air Force and Dutch civil institutions. The couple have four sons: Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau, Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau, Prince Pieter-Christiaan of Orange-Nassau, and Prince Floris of Orange-Nassau, each of whom has appeared at functions tied to organizations such as the Netherlands Olympic Committee, NATO-linked events, and national cultural foundations.
Margriet has served as patron or honorary chair of numerous organizations spanning health, culture, and social welfare. Her patronages include the Netherlands Red Cross, the Princess Margriet Fund, and institutions connected to rehabilitation medicine, audiology, and oncology research, working with centers like Erasmus MC, Radboud University Medical Center, and the Netherlands Cancer Institute. She has been active with arts organizations such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and museums that collaborate with the Rijksmuseum, while supporting heritage projects that involve the Anne Frank House and the Nationaal Archief. Margriet has frequently represented the royal family at state ceremonies alongside heads of state from countries including Belgium, Germany, France, United Kingdom, and Canada, and has participated in international forums with representatives of the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the UNESCO.
Through involvement with disaster-relief networks she has liaised with the International Committee of the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the World Health Organization on humanitarian campaigns, and she has supported rehabilitation and accessibility initiatives in cooperation with the European Disability Forum and national ministries. Her engagements have linked her to cultural diplomacy efforts involving institutions such as the Royal Dutch Shell Foundation and philanthropic networks like the Advisory Committee on Cultural Policy.
Margriet has been decorated by the Netherlands and foreign states for service and representation. Dutch honors include high grades of the Order of the House of Orange and the Order of Orange-Nassau, as well as medals associated with state visits and anniversary celebrations of the Royal House of Orange-Nassau. Foreign honors awarded to her span European and Commonwealth orders such as the Order of Merit (Portugal), Order of the Crown (Belgium), and honors from the United Kingdom and Canada reflecting wartime and postwar ties. Military associations have placed her as honorary member or patron of units connected to the Royal Netherlands Army and the Royal Netherlands Navy, attending commemorations for events like Liberation Day (Netherlands) and ceremonies at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
In later decades Margriet has focused on consolidating philanthropic projects, establishing funds and foundations that support medical research, cultural preservation, and accessibility, working alongside organizations such as the KWF Dutch Cancer Society, Stichting Kinderpostzegels, and Het Concertgebouw. Her legacy includes contributions to Dutch-Canadian relations, commemoration of the Second World War, and sustained patronage of institutions in health and the arts. Institutions like Ottawa City Hall and the Canadian War Museum have recognized her birth's historical significance, while Dutch archives and the Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei preserve records of her engagements. Margriet's public life illustrates intersections between the House of Orange-Nassau, international humanitarian networks, and national cultural institutions, leaving a record reflected in honors, foundations, and institutional partnerships across Europe and North America.
Category:House of Orange-Nassau Category:Dutch royalty