No increase for the Royals this year; Still nearly €2.3 million budgeted
The caretaker Schoof I Cabinet did not budget any salary increases for the Dutch Royals this year. Still, the income benefit for King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, and Princess Beatrix accounts for €2.282 million in the national budget presented on Tuesday.
Based on the Dutch Constitution and the Financial Status of the Royal House Act, four members of the Royal House are eligible for a benefit from the State - the reigning monarch (King Willem-Alexander), their spouse (Queen Maxima), the next in line for the throne (Crown Princess Amalia), and the previous monarch (Princess Beatrix).
Next year, the King’s income benefit will be €1.163 million, compared to €1.164 million this year, RTLNieuws reported. Queen Maxima’s salary will be €461,000, down from €462,000. And Princess Beatrix will receive €658,000, the same as this year. Crown Princess Amalia has agreed to repay her income benefits as long as she is still studying.
In addition to personal income, the four are also eligible for allowances to cover personnel and material expenses, such as their utilities and the costs incurred for the care of their horses, cars, and IT.
In recent years, there have been several debates on why the King doesn’t pay taxes like other Dutch citizens. Early last year, the D66, SP, and PvdD submitted a proposal for the King’s exemption from income tax to be scrapped. For the first time, the proposal seemed to have the required two-thirds majority support in both parliament and the Senate, but it still went nowhere.
