{"id":5556,"date":"2018-04-27T15:16:57","date_gmt":"2018-04-27T15:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/?p=5556"},"modified":"2018-04-27T15:16:57","modified_gmt":"2018-04-27T15:16:57","slug":"3-reasons-to-like-the-dutch-monarchy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/3-reasons-to-like-the-dutch-monarchy\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Reasons To Like The Dutch Monarchy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, we looked at three reasons to dislike the Dutch monarchy<\/a>. It is expensive, not transparent, useless… So pragmatic! What do proponents think? Today, on the\u00a0verjaardag van de koning\u00a0<\/em>(the King’s birthday), we will look at 3 reasons to like the Dutch monarchy!<\/p>\n

1. Verbindt mensen!<\/em><\/h2>\n
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Original work by author<\/p><\/div>\n

Having a\u00a0koning\u00a0<\/em>(king) makes people feel connected, as he is the embodiment of a common Dutch heritage. So having a\u00a0koning\u00a0<\/em>makes society more coherent,\u00a0voorstanders\u00a0<\/em>(proponents) say. On top of that, the\u00a0koning\u00a0<\/em>can function as a medium between the\u00a0Nederlandse volk\u00a0<\/em>(Dutch people) and the\u00a0regering\u00a0<\/em>(government). For example, today, the\u00a0koning\u00a0<\/em>is visiting Groningen, which has been plagued by\u00a0aardbevingen <\/em><\/a>(earthquakes)\u00a0due to the\u00a0gaswissing\u00a0<\/em>(gas extraction) in the\u00a0provincie\u00a0<\/em>(province).\u00a0Bezorgde burgers\u00a0<\/em>(worried citizens) can talk to the\u00a0koning\u00a0<\/em>so that they feel heard. And the\u00a0koning<\/em>, being in the position for life, is trusted by a large percentage of the\u00a0bevolking\u00a0<\/em>(population), which gives people the feeling that they get heard when they speak to him.<\/p>\n

Another argument I found<\/a> in this sense is that the fact that the\u00a0koning\u00a0<\/em>is not elected is actually a good thing – he did not choose to have this power, yet it can be very influential. According to this argumentation, he is more careful in using that power, because he was not looking for it. Interesting, as it also shows how much people trust the\u00a0koning\u00a0<\/em>in\u00a0verantwoordelijk handelen\u00a0<\/em>(responsible action).<\/p>\n

2. Gezellig!<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Original work by author<\/p><\/div>\n

Looking at a day like today, having a\u00a0koning\u00a0<\/em>is also just really\u00a0gezellig!<\/em><\/a>\u00a0For generations, people have picked up their painfully orange fashion and party accessories to celebrate the monarch’s birthday. A sort of nostalgia, similar to that of\u00a0Sinterklaas<\/em>, surrounds the\u00a0koningshuis\u00a0<\/em>(royal house). People enjoy the little\u00a0schandalen\u00a0<\/em>(scandals) and\u00a0geruchten\u00a0<\/em>(rumors) and the interaction with other\u00a0koningshuizen\u00a0<\/em>in other countries. A\u00a0traditie\u00a0<\/em>(tradition) that many Dutch feel is part of their national identity. And the Dutch love having reasons to celebrate!<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=S_ln1UYir7g<\/p>\n

3. Brengt Geld op!<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Original work by author<\/p><\/div>\n

While we saw yesterday that the\u00a0koningshuis\u00a0<\/em>is quite expensive,\u00a0voostanders\u00a0<\/em>also emphasize that the\u00a0koningshuis\u00a0<\/em>can bring in money. On\u00a0handelsmissies\u00a0<\/em>(trade missions), the\u00a0koning\u00a0<\/em>acts as\u00a0staatshoofd\u00a0<\/em>(head of state) and connects with other\u00a0staatshoofden\u00a0<\/em>to further Dutch interests, which then could bring economic benefits. Plus, the charme of having a\u00a0koningshuis\u00a0<\/em>could also lead to some tourism that brings in some more money.<\/p>\n

Lucky TV and\u00a0Willie<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n