Why do we need any Royal families at all? And given how personally wealthy they all are, why on earth are the taxpayers giving them ANY money?? I've been asking this for a long time and no-one can give me a straight answer - other than 'they're good ambassadors for the country' - LOL (think Prince Harry in UK, some abassador!!)
They may not be obvious 'heads of state' any longer but the fact that we pay them off each year proves that they have a huge influence on their country of residence.
Personally I think it's disgusting that we prop these people up, and those of you Royalists out there are enablers. Wake up people, we're still being ruled and are considered commoners, there is no existing democracy.

By Hilary | January 27, 2010 10:02 AM

The first thing i thought of when i read this, was all of the people in this world who go to bed hungry.
But, they aren't us, so it isn't our problem really.
Seriously I get such a feeling of pride and sense of belonging when I see just one of our royals show any emotion whatsoever.
I think a few tears or a smile is worth 40 million alone.
People don't understand how grateful we are to have a royal family, even though they cost a small fortune..

By bert | January 27, 2010 10:35 AM

Time for a referendum to the people on this.
This is the tax payer's money, and it is a modern world now.
This money would be far better off helping thousands of people across the country rather than a handful of wealthy people who can safely see through the rest of their lives in luxery and comfort.

By Jesper | January 27, 2010 10:36 AM

Disgusting really.....
The 40 million should be given back to each one of us, and furthermore each member of the royal family should be fairly taxed like all of us, on their holdings, but seen and unseen.

By Anke | January 27, 2010 10:38 AM

I find the figures presented by Herman Matthijs exagerated. "Onze royals worden middelmatig betaald."

By Royalist | January 27, 2010 10:38 AM

Crazy. And year after year the costs for this continue to climb, at the same time year after year, we the people are having to except less and less....

By Paul | January 27, 2010 10:39 AM

The americans and the french had the right idea long ago. The english should have taken the idea back with them after the american revolution like the french did..

By Dirk | January 27, 2010 10:40 AM

Would the world ever really know we no longer have a royal family? Would our lives day in and day out change much without them?
I think we would remain dutch with or without a royal family, the world wouldn't lose respect for us, and we could change queen's day to netherlands unity day...
We can evolve, and we can always read about the ole days if we care to as well....

By Diederick | January 27, 2010 10:41 AM

So if the tax payers of this country pay for the royal residences and palaces, when do we get to party and sleep over in these places our hard earned tax money pays for?! =) Yes, you can be queen for a day too!

By Geert | January 27, 2010 10:42 AM

wonder if the royals are paying heed to Wos Bouters comments? imagine such a small family costing 40m a year to live. what are they eating..gold?

By Jennifer | January 27, 2010 11:32 AM

All I can say is that its a disgrace. They should give some of their money to the poor people in Haiti!!!!!

By Marlene | January 27, 2010 2:22 PM

Well, it is true the Spanish royals are "cheap" compared with the others but on the other hand, they have plenty of possesions, Juan Carlos I is a very rich man (considereing that when he got the crown he was really poor) and that the State pays all his wishes, inclduing luxury cars, boats, etc. His son's new house was built with public money and it is only a 1000 m2 appartment.

By the way, do you know it is forbidden by law to publish negative news about Spanish King? :)

By Juan Manuel | January 27, 2010 3:46 PM

Does anyone really honestly think that if we stopped paying to have a royal family that money would instead go somewhere its sorely needed? of course not, it would just get eaten up by the rest of the government.

By Kim | January 27, 2010 3:54 PM

we should all do what the French did, off with their head, they are filthy filthy rich so they shouldnt get one damn cent of PUBLIC money

By adhd | January 27, 2010 4:10 PM

I think I would rather keep the royalty thank-you-very-much. Remember that we have a holiday called "Queensday" and I would very much like to keep it alive. At every embassy abroad we have a picture of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, Queen Beatrix. If we get rid of the monarchy, we will end up as many other states, without some people to unite us all.

By Rolf Van Bos | January 27, 2010 4:53 PM

Monarchies cost a nation more than just money... they subconsciously undermine the peoples self esteem. There is something inherently wrong with having a privileged class.

By Buzzer | January 27, 2010 8:37 PM

Things could be wprse: look at the difference in lifestyle between rulers and ruled in Saudi Arabia.

By Janka | January 27, 2010 9:26 PM

Dirk, The English legally executed Charles I and had a (short-lived)republic long before the French or American Revolutions. Check out Oliver Cromwell.
As for today's royals, we should all be grateful that they're not the sort of people who would (allow their staff to) leave the curtains drawn all day.

By Michael Dawkes | January 28, 2010 2:32 AM

The terrible event on Queen's day last year is an example of what happens when desperate people (someone who had lost his job and was about to lose his flat) think 'I have helped support the Royal Family, who is going to help me when I am in need?' I am not saying that what he did was right, as it cost the lives of innocent people, only highlighting what can happen in times of crisis. Everyone is trying to survive in this time of financial crisis, one (especially Royal families around Europe) has to be sensitive to that. Parading the streets as if there is no crisis is not the best approach.

By Ester | January 28, 2010 6:16 AM

As long as there are royal families there cannot be a real democracy!!!!!

By Ton Faas | January 28, 2010 6:53 AM

Every humans' flesh and blood is equal. Nepotism and privilege must go.
The idea of royalty should be retired to history. Go to a museum if you want to see royal history.

By GoodBye | January 28, 2010 10:47 AM

Here is an idea for all to consider- If the 40 million euros in tax payer contribution was even distributed (refunded) back to the entire population of this country (the Population of The Netherlands in 2009 was estimated at 16,558,674, and we rounded up to 20 million euros, leaving 3.5 million for administration of refund of these tax euros for example), every man, woman and child in this country would wake up one morning 2 million euros wealthier, The Netherlands would still enjoy a royal family and the royals would still enjoy a very prosperous standard of living the rest of their lives.
Share in the equity, and we can create a better tomorrow together
Peace

By David | January 28, 2010 11:20 AM

"very man, woman and child in this country would wake up one morning 2 million euros wealthier" [wrote David]
and either everyone would stop working and the Dutch economy would fail, or cost of living would increase so sharply that Holland would be unsustainable.
This aside, the monarch gives many people pride. I am always in favour of an unelected body at the top with the power to dismiss parliament. I pin some hopes on this given my distrust of politicians. One might argue these and the monarch are one and the same, but I prefer to to keep my options open. Besides, I am proud to have a king or queen however misplaced this is ;P

By jon1 | January 28, 2010 1:49 PM

"All I can say is that its a disgrace. They should give some of their money to te poor people in Haiti!!!!!"
By Marlene | January 27, 2010 2:22 PM

Marlene, how do you know that they did not? They don't have to tell you what they do with all of their cash?

By wally | January 28, 2010 1:58 PM

I do think that the roals could reemburse some of their wealth to the older people at home whohave been working hard all their lives But do not excemd the gov. they would take a it away as soon as it was distributed and use it to there own wellbeing.

By engeltje watson | January 28, 2010 3:06 PM

Do the maths right! 40 million Euro over 20 million population is 2 Euro each! a small price to pay I think?

By Cpt Strangepork | January 28, 2010 5:13 PM

Sad to see so many comments of jealousy.

People should be grateful for what they have & not moan about what they don't have...

Scapegoating the royals or anyone else because you have a vastly lower income
will not cause them to lose any sleep, only laugh out loud when they read such comments as these...

By stevie | January 28, 2010 6:16 PM

It is fine if the Dutch like their Queen and want to keep her, along with Queensday and all the rest. The problem is that her family is alone costing 100 mil EUR, and is going up when the overall budget is being cut everywhere and pensioners are being asked to work longer in life. If you want a Queen, then why does she need any higher salary than the Prime Minister? Why does she need any more perks than the Prime Minister? She could easily live in a modest but luxurious home in Wassenaar and drive a tasteful Audi to and from her work in the Hague. In fact, perhaps she should do as the rest of us do and ride a bike!

By Matt | January 28, 2010 6:52 PM

Presidents cost the same amount to maintain (they also have a palace, cars, aircraft, security etc) plus their elections cost millions each time they are run. Be a republican if you wish but dont pretend a Presidential system is free.

By Leo | January 28, 2010 9:07 PM

As long as you're willing to support the royal family, then you will continue to support them. If you don't like it, you really only have two choices: move to another country that doesn't have a royal family, or work to change the form of government in NL. Given that the royals control the police and the military, I think you'd be better off packing your bags and leaving the country. When there aren't enough people left in NL to support the royals, things will change. Governments NEVER take a pay cut - NEVER. All they do is expect you and me to pay more to continue to support their lavish lifestyles that add little to no value to Nederlanders. To the person who likes Queensday and wants to keep it, it is worth what you pay to the royals to have that one day of partying???

By Tim | January 29, 2010 1:11 AM

I Thank God everyday for the wisdom,love and grace of Her Majesty The Queen!!! In HMS

By Prince Stephen Samuel Gallant | January 29, 2010 5:02 PM

The vast majority of the funding goes to the upkeep of Palaces and trasnportation. Even if the monarchy was abolished, these cost will largely be remain the same. I live in the United States and the President of the United States cost the taxpayer a good sum of money, when you consider the cost of running and maintaining the White House in 1997 was $48,000,000. The Constitinian Society places the cost of the Presidency at approximately $310,000,000. For that price, I will take a King anyday, at least you get a show for that price.

By Buck | January 30, 2010 5:06 AM

I'm French and you guys are kidding. Our President costs us much more than 40 million euros. Think twice about that.

By lennie | February 1, 2010 2:57 PM

Perhaps a President cost as much as a Monarch. But is at fair that one family for centuries expect to live in so much splendour and feel they have the right to do so. Without any qualms they accepted a rise in their income, while we suffer a financial crisis and people are made to work till they are 67, instead of 65. Government wants to cut down on anything but the Roayals. Why? And another thing, with a President only he or she is being paid, not the whole family i.e. spouse, children etc.

By Cornelia Figueira | February 10, 2010 6:04 PM