Dutch nobility is regulated by act of law in the ''Wet op de adeldom'' (Law Regarding Nobility, passed into law on May 10, 1994) and is overseen by the (High Council of Nobility), an official state institution of the

Kingdom of the Netherlands , national_anthem = ) , image_map = Kingdom of the Netherlands (orthographic projection).svg , map_width = 250px , image_map2 = File:KonDerNed-10-10-10.png , map_caption2 = Map of the four constituent countries shown to scale , capital = ...

. Before 1814, the history of nobility was separate for each of the Dutch provinces. In the

Early Middle Ages The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th or early 6th century to the 10th century. They marked the start of the Mi ...

, there were, in each province, a number of feudal lords who often were just as powerful, and sometimes more so, than the rulers themselves. In old times, no title other than ''knight'' existed. In the middle of the fourteenth century, quarrels between the feudal lords reduced many families and castles to ruins, contributing to the

Dukes of Burgundy Duke of Burgundy (french: duc de Bourgogne) was a title used by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, from its establishment in 843 to its annexation by France in 1477, and later by Holy Roman Emperors and Kings of Spain from the House of Habsburg ...

s' acquisition by conquest or inheritance of many of the provinces forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1581, representatives of the Seven Provinces abjured Philip II of Spain, heir of the Dukes of Burgundy. This left a great part of the executive and legislative power to the

Ridderschap Ridder (; English: "Knight") is a noble title in Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. Traditionally it denotes the second lowest rank within the nobility, standing below Baron, but above the untitled nobility (Jonkheer) in these countries. " ...

(knightly estate) of each province, which consisted of the representatives of those families of the old feudal nobility. In 1795, the Batavian Revolution did away with their power, and it was not before 1813, when

William I William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England, reigning from 1066 until his death in 10 ...

became King of the Netherlands, that they were again given power in another form. Still, by the time of the constitution of 1848, they had no influence in government affairs. In 1813, if no higher title was recognised, the men only were to bear the hereditary predicate of ''

Jonkheer (female equivalent: ; french: Écuyer; en, Squire) is an honorific in the Low Countries denoting the lowest rank within the nobility. In the Netherlands, this in general concerns a prefix used by the untitled nobility. In Belgium, this is the ...

''. Some old feudal families obtained the title of '' Baron'' or ''Baroness'' for all their descendants. Older nobility, having been granted their titles by either the Holy Roman Emperors or

French Kings France was ruled by Monarch, monarchs from the establishment of the West Francia, Kingdom of West Francia in 843 until the end of the Second French Empire in 1870, with several interruptions. Classical French historiography usually regards Cl ...

long before 1813, held their pre-existent titles, which were confirmed in the new Kingdom of the Netherlands (such as the families Bentinck,

Limburg Stirum The House of Limburg-Stirum (or Limburg-Styrum), which adopted its name in the 12th century from the immediate county of Limburg an der Lenne in what is now Germany, is one of the oldest families in Europe. It is the eldest and only surviving br ...

and

Van Rechteren The House of Rechteren (also van Rechteren-Limpurg) is the name of an old noble family belonging to the Dutch and German nobility. The German branch of Countsvon Rechteren-Limpurg-Speckfeld has been mediatised. History The family was already no ...

). In some of these families it is more usual that only the oldest male descendant bears the family title while other descendants bear the predicate of ''Jonkheer'' (m) or ''

Jonkvrouw (female equivalent: ; french: Écuyer; en, Squire) is an honorific in the Low Countries denoting the lowest rank within the nobility. In the Netherlands, this in general concerns a prefix used by the untitled nobility. In Belgium, this is the ...

'' (f).

Princes/Princesses

* Van Oranje-Nassau; members of the royal house are ''Prince of the Netherlands'' and/or ''Prince of Orange-Nassau'' Arms of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

* De Bourbon de Parme, De Bourbon de Parme wapen

* De Riquet de Caraman; the head of the family is the ''

Prince of Chimay Prince of Chimay is a title of Belgian and Dutch nobility associated with the town of Chimay in what is now Belgium. The title is currently held by Philippe de Caraman-Chimay, 22nd Prince de Chimay. The main residence of the princely family is Ch ...

Blason Joseph Marie Guy Henri Philippe de Riquet (1836-1892)

* Wellesley; the ''

Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish people, Anglo-Irish soldier and Tories (British political party), Tory statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures of Uni ...

'' in the peerage of the United Kingdom also holds the Dutch & Belgian title ''

Prince of Waterloo Prince of Waterloo (Dutch: ''Prins van Waterloo'', French: ''Prince de Waterloo'') is a title in the Dutch and Belgian nobility, held by the Duke of Wellington. The title was created by King William I of the Netherlands for Field Marshal Arthur We ...

Dukes/Duchesses

''The title

Duke Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are rank ...

Duchess Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ranke ...

(Hertog in Dutch) is no longer in existence in noble families of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in this day and age.''

Marquises/Marquesses

* Le Poer Trench; the ''

Earl of Clancarty Earl of Clancarty is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland. History The title was created for the first time in 1658 in favour of Donough MacCarty, 2nd Viscount Muskerry, of the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty. He had ...

'' in the peerage of Ireland is the '' Marquis of Heusden'', Earl of Clancarty COA

* D'Auxy *

Van Hoensbroeck Van Hoensbroeck (in German: Hoensbroech) is a royal and aristocratic family with medieval origins in the town of Hoensbroek near Heerlen in Limburg, Netherlands. History is the first known ancestor of the family; he was killed in the Battle of ...

(this family left the Netherlands in the 19th century. Known in Germany as ''

Graf (feminine: ) is a historical title of the German nobility, usually translated as "count". Considered to be intermediate among noble ranks, the title is often treated as equivalent to the British title of "earl" (whose female version is "coun ...

von und zu Hoensbroech'', the head of this family bears the titles of ''Marquis and Count von und zu Hoensbroech'') Hoensbroech-Wappen

* Van Eeden, Graaf (Earl) van den Briel . The family was established in the 15th century from French,

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

and

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

ancestries in the province of South Holland. They acquired their status of nobility during the time of

William III of Orange William III (William Henry; ; 4 November 16508 March 1702), also widely known as William of Orange, was the sovereign Prince of Orange from birth, Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel in the Dutch Republic from ...

and became one of the most influential families of the Dutch Royal Court. In the late 17th century the family branched out and migrated to

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

and

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. From the early 18th to 19th century, many members of the family emigrated and established themselves in North America and

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

. The family no longer holds official lands or positions at the Dutch Royal court or within the government. The current Marquise van Eeden resides in

Pretoria Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foot ...

, South Africa.

Counts/Countesses

* D'Auxy * Bentinck van Aldenburg Aldenburg-Bentinck

Van den Bosch Van den Bosch is a Dutch language, Dutch toponymic surname, originally indicating either an association with a forest ("bosch", modern Dutch "bos"), with a place/dwelling named "Den Bosch" or with the city Den Bosch. In the Netherlands about 10,200 ...

* Van Bylandt Wapen van Bylandt

* Dumonceau * Van der Duyn * Festetics de Tolna * De Ficquelmont / De Ficquelmont de Vijle Armoiries de Ficquelmont

* De Geloes * Van der Goltz * Van Heerdt * Van Heiden * De Hochepied *

* Van Hogendorp Van Hogendorp wapen 1868

* Van Limburg Stirum Limburg Stirum klein

* Van Lynden Lynden wapen

* De Marchant et d'Ansembourg * De Norman et d'Audenhove * Von Oberndorff * Van Oijen * Van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg; members of this family are ''Count of Oranje-Nassau'' as well ''Jonkheer van Amsberg'' Arms of the children of Beatrix of the Netherlands

Arms of the children of Beatrix of the Netherlands

* De Perponcher Sedlnitsky * Von Quadt * Van Randwijck * Von Ranzow *

/ Van Rechteren Limpurg Van Rechteren wapen 1814

van Renesse Van Renesse is an old Dutch aristocratic family that stems from the town of Renesse in Zeeland. The current Belgian branch resides in 's Herenelderen Castle since 1540. History The eldest ancestor of this family was Jan van Renesse who is mentio ...

(extinct since 1855) * De Riquet de Caraman * Schimmelpenninck Schimmelpenninck van der Oije - Schimmelpenninck wapen

* Zu Stolberg-Stolberg * Van Wassenaer * Wolff Metternich *

Van Zuylen van Nijevelt Van Zuylen van Nijevelt ( is a noble family from the region of Rotterdam, town and region where several members of the family played a significant role. The head of the family is the Count van Zuylen van Nijevelt; the rest of the family bears t ...

Viscounts/Viscountesses

* (Viscount of Nieuport) * Du Bus * Roest van Alkemade

Barons/Baronesses

* d'Ablaing van Giessenburg (extinct in the Netherlands)(Now prominent in the US) * Van Aerssen Beijeren van Voshol Wapen François van Aerssen 1572-1641

* Van Asbeck * d'Aulnis de Bourouill * Baud * Bentinck Aldenburg-Bentinck

* van Blommestein * Van Boetzelaer Wapen Boetzelaer groot-1

* Van der Borch van Verwolde * Van der Borch tot Verwolde * Van der Borch tot Verwolde van Vorden * Van der Borch genaamd van Rouwenoort * Brantsen * Van Breugel * Calkoen * Van der Capellen * Van Coeverden * Collot d'Escury * Constant de Rebecque * Creutz * Van Dedem * Driehuis * Dibbets * Van Doorn * Van Dorth tot Medler * Du Bus (extinct since 1976) * Van Eck * Van der Feltz * Van Geen * De Geer * Gericke * Gevers * De Girard de Mielet van Coehoorn * Groeninx van Zoelen * Van Haersolte * Van Haersolte van Haerst * Van Hangest d'Yvoy * Van Hardenbroek * Van Harinxma thoe Slooten * Van Heeckeren Heeckeren wapen

* Van Heemstra Van Heemstra wapen

* Van Heerdt * Van Hemert tot Dingshof * De Heusch * Van der Heyden * Van der Heyden van Doornenburg * Van Hogendorp * Van Hövell / Van Hövell tot Westerflier / Van Hövell van Wezeveld en Westerflier * Huyssen van Kattendijke * Van Imhoff * Van Isselmuden * Van Ittersum * De Keverberg (extinct since 1928) * Van Knobelsdorff * De Kock * Krayenhoff *

Lampsins The Lampsins were an aristocratic family in the Netherlands, who attained notability in the trading and colonial worlds in the 17th century. The most notable members of the family were brothers Adrian and Cornelius Lampsins, who were granted lette ...

* Van Lamsweerde * Van Lawick * Van Loo * Van Pabst * Lewe van Aduard * De Loë * Van Lynden Lynden wapen

* Mackay of

Ophemert Ophemert is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is a part of the municipality of West Betuwe, and lies about 5 km south of Tiel. Ophemert was a separate municipality between 1818 and 1978, when it was merged with Neerijnen. H ...

and ZennewijnenFollowing the

House of Lords Act 1999 The House of Lords Act 1999 (c. 34) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. The Act was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. For centuries, the House of Lords ...

, the current Baron has sat in the British

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...

as a representative hereditary peer under his Scottish title since 2019. See https://members.parliament.uk/member/4713/career ''(see

Lord Reay Lord Reay, of Reay in the County of Caithness, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. Lord Reay (pronounced "ray") is the hereditary Clan Chief of Clan Mackay, whose lands in Strathnaver and northwest Sutherland were known as the Reay Country. ...

, Baronet of Strathnaver, and Chief of

Clan Mackay Clan Mackay ( ; gd, Clann Mhic Aoidh ) is an ancient and once-powerful Highland Scottish clan from the far North of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old Kingdom of Moray. They supported Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish ...

)'' * Melvill van Carnbee * Michiels * Mollerus * Van Nagell * Nahuys * Van Oldeneel tot Oldenzeel * D'Olne (extinct since ca. 1890) * Van Pallandt * Prisse * Rasmijn * Van Raders * Van Reede * Rengers, van Welderen * Van Rijckevorsel * Röell * Sandberg Sandberg familie wapen

* Schimmelpenninck van der Oije * Thoe Schwartzenberg en Hohenlansberg * Sirtema van Grovestins *

Six 6 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 6 or six may also refer to: * AD 6, the sixth year of the AD era * 6 BC, the sixth year before the AD era * The month of June Science * Carbon, the element with atomic number 6 * 6 Hebe, an asteroid People ...

* Van Slingelandt * Sloet / Sloet van Oldruitenborgh / Sloet tot Everlo / Sloet tot Lindenhorst * De Smeth * Snouckaert van Schauburg * Speyart van Woerden * Steengracht * Stratenus * Sweerts de Landas * Van Sytzama * Taets van Amerongen / Taets van Amerongen van Renswoude * Van Till *

Van Tuyll van Serooskerken Tuyll is the name of a noble Dutch family, with familial and historical links to England, whose full name is Van Tuyll van Serooskerken. Several knights, members of various courts, literary figures, generals, ambassadors, statesmen and explorers ...

* Van Verschuer *

Van Voorst tot Voorst van Voorst tot Voorst is an old Netherlands, Dutch Nobility, noble family from the Dutch province of Overijssel. History The family has been noble since at least the 14th century ("Uradel"). The first documented ancestor is Fredericus van Heker ...

De Vos van Steenwijk De Vos van Steenwijk is an old Dutch noble family from the Dutch province of Overijssel. History The family was already noble from earliest times ("Uradel (, German: "ancient nobility"; adjective or ) is a genealogical term introduced in l ...

* Van Vredenburch * Van Wassenaer / Van Wassenaer van Catwijck * De Weichs de Wenne * De Wijkerslooth de Weerdesteijn * Van Wijnbergen * Wittert *

Hereditary knights/Jonkvrouwen

* De Behr (extinct 1954) * De Bye (also: Van der Does de Bye) * Van Citters * Von Devivere * Du Bus (extinct 1976) * Van der Heim (extinct 1898) * Huyssen van Kattendijke * Van Lockhorst (extinct 1921) * De Maurissens * Pauw * De Plevits * * Van der Renne (extinct 1964) * Van Rosenthal * De van der Schueren * De Stuers * De Thier * Van Westreenen van Tiellandt (extinct 1848)

Jonkheren/Jonkvrouwen

''Jonkheer/Jonkvrouw'' * Alberda van Ekenstein * Van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg; members of this family are ''Count of Oranje-Nassau'' as well ''Jonkheer van Amsberg'' Arms of the children of Beatrix of the Netherlands

* Van Andringa de Kempenaer * Van Asch van Wijck * Van Baerdt van Sminia * Von Balluseck * Barnaart * Barnaart van Bergen * De Beaufort 25px * Beelaerts van Blokland * Van Beijma * Van Beijma thoe Kingma * Van Benthem van den Bergh / Van den Berch van Heemstede * Van Beresteyn * Van den Bergh * Backer * De Beaufort / Godin de Beaufort * Den Beer Poortugael * Bicker Bicker groot wapen

* Bloys van Treslong * Boddaert * Boogaert / Van Adrichem Boogaert * Boreel * Van den Bosch * Bosch van Drakestein * De Bosch Kemper * Von Bose * Bowier * :nl:Van den Brandeler * De Brauw * Von Chrismar Von Chrismar wapen

* Calkoen * Changuion * Van Citters * Dedel * Van der Does * Van der Does de Willebois * Van Doorn * Elias * Van den Eynde * Van Eys * Van Eysinga * Feith * Flugi van Aspermont * Van Foreest * Van Geen * De Geer / Van Lintelo de Geer * Von Geusau / Alting van Geusau / Valckenier von Geusau * Gevaerts * Gevers / Gevers Deynoot / Gevers van Endegeest / Gevers Leuven * Von Ghycze * De Girard de Mielet van Coehoorn * Van der Goes / Van der Goes van Naters * Goldman * Graafland / Hooft Graafland / Hooft Graafland van Schotervlieland *

De Graeff De Graeff (; also: '' De Graef, Graef, Graeff, Graaff'', Graaf and ''De Graeff van Polsbroek'') is an old Dutch patrician and noble family, The Amsterdam line of the family played an important role during the Dutch Golden Age. They were at the ...

* Graswinckel * Greven * Groeninx van Zoelen * Van Grotenhuis van Onstein * Gülcher (noble branch extinct) * Van Haeften * Van Haersma de With * Van Heemskerck van Beest * Hesselt van Dinter * Van Heurn * Van der Hoeven * Van Holthe / Van Holthe tot Echten * Hooft * Hooft van Woudenberg * Van Humalda van Eysinga * Huydecoper / Huydecoper van Nigtevecht * Van Iddekinge * Jankovich de Jeszenice * De Jong van Beek en Donk * De Jonge / De Jonge van Campens Nieuwland / De Jonge van Ellemeet / De Jonge van Zwijnsbergen * Just de la Paisières * Van Karnebeek * van der Kelen * Kenessey de Kenese * Van Kinschot * De Kock * Kreutzwendedich von dem Borne * De Kuyper * De la Court * De Lange * Van Lawick * Van Lawick van Pabst * Leijssius * Van Lennep * Van Lidth de Jeude Van Lidth de Jeude wapen

* Van Loon * Loudon * Lycklama à Nijeholt * Van der Maessen de Sombreff * De Marees van Swinderen * Martens van Sevenhoven * Martini Buys * Van der Meer de Walcheren * Merkes van Gendt * Meyer * Michiels * Van der Mieden / Van der Mieden van Opmeer * Mock * Mollerus * Von Mühlen * De Muralt * Nahuys * Van Nispen tot Pannerden /Van Nispen tot Sevenaer * van Oordt * Op ten Noort * Van Panhuys * De Pesters * Ploos van Amstel * Van de Poll Van_de_Poll_wapen_1876

* Plompe van Meerdervoort * Prins * Prisse * Quarles de Quarles / Quarles van Ufford * Quintus * Van Raab van Canstein * De Ranitz * Reigersman * Rengers Hora Siccama * Repelaer / Repelaer van Driel * Rethaan Macaré * Reuchlin * Van Riemsdijk * Van Rijckevorsel * Röell * De Rotte * De Roy van Zuidewijn * Rutgers van Rozenburg * Sandberg / Sandberg van Boelens / Sandberg tot Essenburg * Van Santen * Van Staden * Van Sasse van Ysselt * De Savornin Lohman * Schimmelpenninck * Von Schmidt auf Altenstadt * Schorer * De Serière * Serraris * Sicking(h)e *

* Van Sminia * Smissaert * Smits van Oyen * Snoeck * Snouck Hurgronje * Speelman * Spengler * Van Spengler * Stoop * Storm van 's-Gravesande * Stratenus * Strick van Linschoten * Van Suchtelen / Van Suchtelen van de Haare * Teding van Berkhout * Testa * Van Tets * Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer * Des Tombe * Trip / Laman Trip / Van Vierssen Trip * Tulleken * Vegelin van Claerbergen * Verheyen * Versélewel de Witt Hamer * De Villeneuve * Van Vliet * Van Vredenburch * Van Weede / Van Weede van Dijkveld * Wesselman van Helmond * Wichers / Van Buttingha Wichers * De Wijkerslooth de Weerdesteijn * Wittert van Hoogland * Wladimiroff * Van der Wyck

References

Sources

* Melville de Massue, Marquis de Ruvigny, The Nobilities of Europe, Adamant Media Corporation, 2000

External links

List of all noble families in the Netherlands from 1814 till present
{{in lang, nl Dutch noble