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The Netherlands’ Princess Amalia waives right to yearly income and returns expenses

Source: HetKoninklijkHuis.nl

The eldest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and heir to the Dutch throne has waived an allowance of €1.6 million for now, saying it would make her feel “uncomfortable,” adding that she will repay her €300,000 annual student expense allowance.

Dutch Princess waives benefit during study and will refund student allowance

Princess Amalia, heir to the Dutch throne, has written to outgoing prime minister Mark Rutte to waive her right to €1.6m ($1.94m) a year in income and personal and household expenses because accepting it would make her feel “uncomfortable”. She went on to add she would repay the €300,000 a year income she was entitled to as long as she was still a student, and would not claim €1.3m in expenses “until I incur high costs in my role as Princess of Orange”.

Princess Amalia’s decision marks the first time a member of the royal family had declined to claim their tax-free salary and expenses allowance, according to national broadcaster NOS.
The Princess intends to take a gap year and then begin her undergraduate studies. Princess Amalia’s decision marks the first time a member of the royal family had declined to claim their tax-free salary and expenses allowance, according to national broadcaster NOS. Source: HetKoninklijkHuis.nl

Princess Amalia waives an allowance of 1.6 million euros for the time being

The Netherlands’ Princess Amalia has waived her royal allowance for the time being. Amalia, eldest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and heir to the Dutch throne, turns eighteen in December and from that moment on she is entitled to about €1.6 million per year according to the law. Just under €300,000 a year of this is income, while the compensation for personnel and material expenses is more than €1.3 million.

Amalia now reports that she will not rely on the income part of her benefit until the end of her studies, and that "as long as she will not incur high costs in her position as Princess of Orange" she will also refund the expense allowance. The Crown Princess herself penned a handwritten letter about the matter to outgoing Prime Minister Rutte, who informed the House of Representatives.

Amalia, who just  passed her high school graduation, says she is not going to do further education right away, but she wants to "explore the world first". In her letter, the crown princess writes that she finds it "uncomfortable" to receive benefits as long as she can "offer little in return and other students have it so much more difficult, especially in this uncertain corona time".

It has never happened before that a member of the Royal House has waived their allowance.

The allowance for the Royal House is a theme almost every year when the budget is discussed in the House of Representatives. In the run-up to her eighteenth birthday, there was also a discussion about the finances of the crown princess. Some MPs find the amount too high for Amalia.

PM Mark Rutte offered understanding and appreciation

Prime Minister Rutte said he understands and appreciates the crown princess’ move, stressing that it was "really her letter and her decision".

The Prime Minister does not think that this decision will lead to a new discussion about the allowances of the Royal House. "No, the law remains the law and she makes this choice."

According to the prime minister, we should be happy with a crown princess who does this and "we should not problematise that". Rutte thinks Amalia will be a "great queen". 

Source: NOS.nl

“Excellency,

Dear Mr Rutte,

Yesterday I received the news that I have passed my final exams. I hope to take a gap year after the summer holidays and then go on to study. On 7 December 2021 I will turn eighteen and according to the law will receive an allowance, part as income and part as an expense allowance. I find that uncomfortable as long as there is little in return that other students can do, especially in this uncertain Corona tgat. I will therefore pay back the income until the end of my studies. In addition, as long as I do not have to incur high expenses in my position as Princess of Orange, I will also repay the expense allowance.

I hope you will understand.”
Princess Amalia’s letter to Prime Minister Rutte reads: “Excellency,

Dear Mr Rutte,

Yesterday I received the news that I have passed my final exams. I hope to take a gap year after the summer holidays and then go on to study. On 7 December 2021 I will turn eighteen and according to the law will receive an allowance, part as income and part as an expense allowance. I find that uncomfortable as long as there is little in return that other students can do, especially in this uncertain Corona tgat. I will therefore pay back the income until the end of my studies. In addition, as long as I do not have to incur high expenses in my position as Princess of Orange, I will also repay the expense allowance.

I hope you will understand.” Source: Twitter@RickEversRoyal

BrightVibes founder and CEO Michiel De Gooijer had this to say via LinkedIn

Dutch 🇳🇱 Princess Amalia 👸wrote to our PM she will denounce her yearly €300k salary and max €1.3M expense allowance which she’s entitled too when she turns 18 this year. She states she feels uncomfortable receiving the allowance knowing so many students are struggling whilst – being a student herself – can’t deliver much service to our country for the next few years.

This is something that never happened before and I deeply respect her for taking this unprecedented step. She sets the example for many people and organisations. She’s fully entitled to do take the allowance, it’s her legal right. However, what she illustrates is that WHAT MAY BE LEGAL, IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY MORAL. May this generationZ-princess inspire many executives and their companies to follow her example. — Michiel De Gooijer, founder and CEO of BrightVibes.


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