The Dutch Royal Family: Prince Maurits

Here is the whole family. Princess Marilène i will discuss tomorrow.

Prince Maurits is the eldest son of Princess Margriet and Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven. He is married to Princess Marilène and has three children, Anna, Lucas and Felicia.

Youth

Maurits Willem Pieter Hendrik, Prince of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, was born in Utrecht on 17 April 1968, the eldest son of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven.

Like his mother, Princess Margriet, Prince Maurits was sponsored by the Dutch merchant navy at his christening.

Prince Maurits has three brothers: Prince Bernhard, born in 1969, Prince Pieter‑Christiaan, born in 1972, and Prince Floris, born in 1975. His family lived in Apeldoorn throughout his childhood, moving to Het Loo House in 1975.

Education

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

He gained his VWO (pre‑university education) certificate at the Veluws College in 1987. From August 1987 to January 1989, the Prince performed his military service in the Royal Netherlands Navy. He then went to live and work in Paris for a few months before going to university. He received refresher training in the Royal Netherlands Navy in late 1992. He holds the rank of lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve.

In the autumn of 1989, Prince Maurits enrolled at Groningen University to study economics. His subjects included finance/investment, logistics, marketing and strategic management. He was awarded his degree in October 1995. The subject of his dissertation was the strategic planning of Schiphol Airport.

Marriage and family

At Groningen University, Prince Maurits met Marilène van den Broek.

The couple announced their engagement in November 1997 and they were married in May 1998. The civil ceremony was conducted by the Mayor of Apeldoorn, Harm Bruins Slot, at Het Loo Palace, Apeldoorn, on 29 May. The marriage was blessed the following day during a service led by Rev. N. ter Linden and Father Gerard Oostvogel OP in the Grote Kerk, Apeldoorn.

Children

Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène have three children. Their first daughter, Anna (Anastasia Margriet Joséphine) van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, was born on 15 April 2001. Their son, Lucas (Lucas Maurits Pieter Henri) van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, was born on 26 October 2002. Their second daughter, Felicia (Felicia Juliana Bénedicte Barbara) van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, was born on 31 May 2005. All three children were born in Amsterdam, where the family also lives.

The three children were christened by Rev. Ter Linden and Father Oostvogel.

Work and official duties

In late 1994, Prince Maurits gained work experience with the Schiphol Airport Authority, and went to work there in the summer of 1995.

During the seven years he worked for the Authority, he occupied several positions, including Senior Manager of Passenger Services. In September 2001, he became a business manager at Philips DAP BV (Domestic Appliances and Personal Care) in Amersfoort where he was in charge of part of the Philishave portfolio. In May 2006, Prins Maurits started his own business. His company, The Source, focuses on innovative concepts for products, services and systems for both business and government.

Official duties

It is only rarely – for example on the Queen's official birthday on 30 April – that Prince Maurits 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.

Mauritius

In September 1998, Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène represented the Dutch government at the celebrations commemorating the 400th anniversary of the first Dutch landing on the island of Mauritius, which, like the Prince, was named after Stadholder Prince Maurits (1567‑1625).
Patron

Prince Maurits is the patron of the Maurits van Nassau Cultural Institute, whose aim is to draw the attention of a broad public to the close historical ties existing between the Netherlands and Brazil. The Institute hopes in this way to improve cultural relations between the two countries.

Leisure pursuits

The Prince’s hobbies include making music, sport, (especially sailing, skiing and running) and cooking.

In 1997, he and Princess Marilène ran the New York Marathon with a group of friends.

Source