Traditions
Royal marriages are often accompanied by military ceremonial. If possible, the bridegroom wears his military uniform. The wedding of the heir to the throne is marked by a 21-gun salute.
On the wedding day, the heir’s new husband or wife is given the personal title of Prince or Princess of the Netherlands. Other new female members of the Royal House take the title and surname of their husbands on marriage and do not bear a title in their own right.
History
Until well into the 20th century, royal marriage partners largely came from other royal houses. This made it possible to extend sovereign territory through inheritance or even ascend the throne of another country. The weddings of Dutch princes or kings therefore often took place abroad. The dynastic, constitutional and private law consequences of such a marriage were regulated by a treaty between the two royal houses. Nowadays the couple sign a prenuptial agreement.