Dutch royal palace renovation bill almost doubles to €60m

Started by snokitty, May 29, 2015, 05:34:54 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

snokitty

Dutch royal palace renovation bill almost doubles to ?60m - DutchNews.nl
Quote
Renovating the royal family's Huis ten Bosch palace is set to cost almost €60m, well over the original estimate of €35m, according to broadcaster RTL news. RTL bases its claims on sources close to the cabinet. King Willem-Alexander and his family will eventually move to the palace when the work has been completed in 2018. It is the first time substantial work has been carried out on the building since 1981. When the figure was first announced last year, prime minister Mark Rutte said he understood €35m is a lot of money but that it is a 'normal' price for renovating a 17th century villa. MPs are now demanding the government explain the overspend. '€35m was ridiculous and this is doubly ridiculous,' Socialist MP Ronald van Raak told news agency ANP.
"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too"      Voltaire

I can see humor in most things & I would rather laugh than cry.    Snokitty


Curryong

Goodness, that is a fortune. Which palace is the royal family living in at the moment? Could they not stay where they are? What do the Dutch people say about the costs?

This is, I know, a very fraught subject in Britain, especially with the ruinous condition of BP. Whether there is a monarchy or not, all these European palaces can't be allowed to just rot away, however. On the other hand, these are hard times to be contemplating spending so much on a building, however magnificent.

What happens in Spain?  I know the Government is in charge of maintenance of the palaces/castles and Felipe and Letizia live in a large fairly modern house, not in a palace. What if the large palace in Barcelona needs urgent repairs, though? It wouldn't be a good look to try and push those sort of expenses through Parliament at the moment, you wouldn't think!

TLLK

@Curryong-At the moment the King, Queen and AAA team continue to live at Villa Eikenhorst where they've lived for about 12 years. Right after their wedding in 2002, W-A and Max lived at Nooriende 66 until the extensive renovations to Villa E. could be completed. Villa E. had been last occupied by Beatrix's sister Cristina and her family in the 1980's. It's been suggested that W-A's younger brother and his family might move into Villa E. Other royal cousins live in homes on the estate where Villa E. is located.

Beatrix has returned to her home Castle Drayksten which she'd purchased in the 1960's. Beatrix, Claus and the boys moved into Huis ten Bosch in the 1980's after she ascended to the throne.  Prior to her abdication in 2013, Castle D.  underwent renovation as well. Huis ten Bosch had not been upgraded in decades so it is showing the wear/tear that is being attended to now. It will be a few years until W-A and his family move into H.t.B. palace.

I agree that the cost of renovation is growing and there doesn't appear to be an easy answer.  So many of these European palaces suffered damage in WWII and even though were repaired are showing their age. At the Amalienborg palace complex, Frederik and Mary had to wait years before moving into their palace as it had to undergo renovation after Queen Ingrid passed away. Now the Queen and Prince Henrik are out of their home  at Amalienborg as their roof has to be repaired.

Curryong

Thank you for that full explanation, TLLK. Is Villa Eikenhorst simply a large house like Felipe and Letizia's or is it older and more like a chateau? I didn't realise Margrethe and Henri were 'homeless' at the moment. It's a good job these royal families have several homes on their estates! This problem is certainly not going to go away.

TLLK

@Curryong-I'd say that it is more like a large home similar to Felipe and Letizia's house. JC and Sofia are at Zarzuela Palace which was the old hunting lodge. After the monarchy was restored they didn't feel the need to move in the Royal Palace in Madrid as Zarzuela had been their home for years. Felipe's home was built on the same estate. Infanta Elena and her children live in an apartment in Madrid and the Palmas are still in Geneva with their Barcelona home on the market.                              Margrethe and Henrik are fortunate that they can move into one of the other 3  palaces at their disposal: Marliensborg,  Grasten, and Fredensborg. This couple moves between palaces during the year changing for the holidays and seasons. Mary and Frederik lived at home at the Fredensborg complex while waiting for the work at Amalienborg to be completed.
Joachim and Marie are now in Copenhagen as well with their young family and are now closer to Alexandra, Martin, Nicolai and Felix.

Curryong

Thanks, TLLK. The main thing is to be comfortable in your home isn't it, and if a cosy more modern home does it for you and your family all the better! Of course, monarchs also require large palaces to hold ceremonies, investitures etc. BP has never been cosy or comfortable and I can imagine huge palaces like the one in Madrid being the same, magnificent though it is.

TLLK

@Curryong-BTW there are some aerial photos of Villa E. at that very large royal site. Look in the Dutch forum under and they do have a thread for it. :)