New Guidelines Aim for Clarity in Royal Family’s Outside Work
the Hague,Netherlands – Prime Minister Dionne Hanselaar Schoof has outlined new guidelines for members of the Dutch Royal House taking on outside positions,responding to scrutiny sparked by Princess Laurentien‘s involvement with a foundation assisting families affected by the childcare benefits scandal. The move seeks to clarify the process for royals pursuing work aligned with their “personal interests, talents, education and wishes for development,” while ensuring appropriate oversight.
The clarification comes after questions from the House of Representatives regarding Princess Laurentien’s role as chairman of a foundation supporting parents impacted by the toeslagenaffaire – a politically sensitive issue involving wrongly accused parents. Her work with the foundation lead to disagreements with Finance Ministry officials and critical reports, ultimately resulting in her stepping down from the position in 2023.The incident prompted concerns from multiple political parties, including NSC, SGP, and VVD, who raised issues ranging from “an inconvenience in society” to the need for a future plan to prevent similar situations.
Under the newly defined rules, any member of the Royal House seeking an outside position must first obtain permission from the relevant minister. Such as, work related to poverty alleviation would require discussion with the Minister of Social Affairs. The minister will assess the suitability of the position,compensation,and location. Schoof emphasized the need for “customization” in applying these rules.
A debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening will determine whether these guidelines satisfy the concerns of parliamentarians and provide sufficient transparency regarding the outside activities of the Dutch Royal Family.
