Overview cost of Dutch monarchy unclear

The Netherlands Court of Audit has sharply critised the Dutch governement for the lack of transparency in money spent for the upkeep of the Royal House. ,,It is disappointing" that Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende refuses to give a more detailed overview of the expenditures, as requested by Dutch parliament.

The Netherlands Court of Audit (Algemene Rekenkamer) determines whether central government uses funds from the public purse correctly and effectively. The Court of Audit is independent of the government.

According to the Court, which yearly presents its findings after studying government spending, there is no uniformity in attributing cost of the monarchy - such as intelligence and security, protection and guarding of the palaces, transportation and the like; for a total of about 100 million euro.

Unlike for instance Denmark, Norway and Britain there is no itimized annual report. Each ministry reports in its own way about the money spent; even for palaces that are no longer used by the royal family, suich as the former home of Queen Juliana, Soestdijk Palace.   

The government fails to provide parliament with a clear, complete and transparent overview the Court said. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende however is not planning to do things differently. Parliament now will have to make its views known.

© GPD Netherlands Press Association; Photo (Queen Beatrix), Royal Press Europe, Albert Ph. van der Werf