The Golden Coach (Dutch: Gouden Koets) is a coach owned and used by the Dutch royal family. The Golden Coach was used every year to carry the Dutch monarch from the Noordeinde Palace to the Ridderzaal in order to deliver the Speech from the Throne or the wedding of the Prince of Orange or the Princess of Orange. The Golden Coach is stored at the Royal Stables on the Noordeinde Palace grounds in The Hague.
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Golden Coach (Netherlands) in the context of Prinsjesdag
Prinsjesdag (English: Prince's Day) is the day on which the reigning monarch of the Netherlands addresses a joint session of the States-General of the Netherlands (consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives) to give the Speech from the Throne (Dutch: Troonrede), similar to the annual State of the Union in the United States or the British State Opening of Parliament. This speech sets out the main features of government policy for the coming parliamentary session.
The occasion is prescribed by the constitution, article 65 of which states: "A statement of the policy to be pursued by the Government shall be given by or on behalf of the King or the Queen before a joint session of the two Houses of the States-General that shall be held every year on the third Tuesday in September or on such earlier date as may be prescribed by Act of Parliament." Article 105, paragraph 2 of the Constitution adds that this coincides with the submission of the budget.
Golden Coach (Netherlands) in the context of Ridderzaal
The Ridderzaal (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɪdərzaːl]; English: Hall of Knights) is the main building of the 13th-century inner square of the former castle of the counts of Holland called Binnenhof (English: Inner Court) at the address Binnenhof 11 in The Hague, Netherlands. It is used for the annual state opening of Parliament on Prinsjesdag, when the Dutch monarch drives to Parliament in the Golden Coach and delivers the speech from the throne. It is also used for official royal receptions, and inter-parliamentary conferences.
Due to the restoration of the Golden Coach and some controversy surrounding images on the left panel, portraying Hulde der Koloniën (Tribute from the colonies), the Glass Coach is used on Prinsjesdag since 2015.
Golden Coach (Netherlands) in the context of Glass Coach (Dutch royal carriage)
The Glass Coach (Dutch: Glazen Koets) is a royal carriage that was used by the Dutch royal family for special events before Queen Wilhelmina received the Golden Coach. The coach was then used only for the monarch or the parents of the bride or groom on a royal wedding day. In 2015, it started to be used more frequently for state events because the Golden Coach needed to be repaired. It is the oldest coach the Dutch royal family owns. The Glass Coach is stored at the Royal Stables in The Hague.