Those who want to see up close where the king delivered the throne speech on Prinsjesdag will have the opportunity this year. You are warmly invited to the Royal Theatre on Korte Voorhout in The Hague on Tuesday, September 16.
Between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM, you will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look. Here you can see the throne as well as the historic interior of the theatre. There is also a special exhibition featuring photography from 50 years of Prinsjesdag. Order a free ticket at: Openstelling Prinsjesdag 2025 | The National Theatre
Due to the renovation of the Binnenhof, the Ridderzaal is not available on Prinsjesdag. Therefore, the king has been delivering the throne speech at the Royal Theatre since 2022, just a stones throw from the Binnenhof.
The beautiful building was originally built in 1766 as a palace for Prince Karel Christiaan van Nassau-Weilburg, the brother-in-law of Stadtholder Willem V. In 1802, after the princes death, a group of prominent citizens from The Hague rented the palace for a period of 99 years. Under their leadership, the palace was converted into a theatre. The Royal Theatre is one of the three houses of The National Theatre, the largest touring theatre company in the Netherlands.
On Prinsjesdag, the king announces the governments plans for the next year in the throne speech. This takes place in a Joint Assembly of the States General: a special meeting of the members of both the First and Second Chambers together. On the same day, the government also clarifies what these plans will cost and how the government will finance them. This is done in the Miljoenennota. Afterwards, the members of Parliament, as representatives of the people, debate these plans during the General Political Discussions.
This is how our democracy works: the government can only implement plans if Parliament agrees. Therefore, Prinsjesdag is a day of openness, debate, and political authority. It is truly the day of democracy.