The Dutch Royal Family: Prince Bernhard (younger)

Prince Bernhard is the second son of Princess Margriet and Pieter van Vollenhoven. He is married to Princess Annette. They have two children, Isabella and Samuel.

Youth

Bernhard Lucas Emmanuel, Prince of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, was born in Nijmegen on 25 December 1969.

He's the second son of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven.

Prince Bernhard has three brothers: Prince Maurits, born in 1968, Prince Pieter-Christiaan, born in 1972, and Prince Floris, born in 1975. The family lived in Apeldoorn throughout his childhood, moving to Het Loo House in 1975.

Education

The Prince received both his primary and secondary education in Apeldoorn.

He gained a HAVO (senior general secondary education) certificate in 1987 and his VWO (pre-university education) certificate in 1988. He went on to study economics at Georgetown University in Washington DC, USA.

In 1989 he enrolled at Groningen University to study economics, specialising in marketing and market research, and gaining work experience at, for example, Philips in Singapore. He was awarded his degree in 1995. The subject of his dissertation was quality management at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in Scandinavia.

Marriage and family

While studying in Groningen, Prince Bernhard met Annette Sekrève.

The couple announced their engagement on 11 March 2000. They married in July 2000. The civil ceremony was performed on 6 July 2000 by the Mayor of Utrecht, Ms A.H. Brouwer-Korf, in the Spiegelzaal of the Paushuize, Utrecht. The marriage was blessed two days later, on 8 July 2000, by Dr Anne van der Meiden in the Domkerk, Utrecht.

Children

Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette have two children. Their daughter Isabella (Isabella Lily Juliana) van Vollenhoven, was born in Amsterdam on 14 May 2002. Their son Samuel (Samuel Bernhard Louis) van Vollenhoven was also born in Amsterdam, on 25 May 2004. The family lives in Amsterdam.

Work and official duties

The Prince is a self-employed entrepreneur.
Official duties

It is only rarely – for example on the Queen’s official birthday – that Prince Bernhard attends public events in his capacity as a member of the Royal House. The younger members of the Royal House have made a conscious decision to pursue their own careers, and lead their lives as they choose.

Leisure pursuits

Prince Bernhard’s hobbies include music, windsurfing, sailing, swimming and skiing.

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