Speech from the Throne

Article 65 of the Constitution states:

‘A statement of the policy to be pursued by the Government is given by or on behalf of the King before a joint session of the two Houses of the States General that is held every year on the third Tuesday in September or on such earlier date as may be prescribed by Act of Parliament.’

Since no constitutional requirements are imposed as to the order, length or subject matter of the Speech from the Throne, these may vary from year to year.

From 1815 to 1903 the monarch delivered the Speech from the Throne in the chamber of the House of Representatives. Since 1904 the speech has been given in the Hall of Knights (Ridderzaal) in The Hague.