Editing Politics of the Netherlands (section)

===Monarchy===
{{Main|Monarchy of the Netherlands|List of monarchs of the Netherlands}}

The present monarchy was founded in 1813. After the expulsion of the French, the [[Prince of Orange]] was proclaimed Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands. The new monarchy was confirmed in 1815 at the [[Congress of Vienna]] as part of the re-arrangement of Europe after the fall of [[Napoleon]]. The House of Orange-Nassau was given the present-day Netherlands and Belgium to govern as the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]]. Between 1815 and 1890, the King of the Netherlands was also [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg]].

The current monarch is [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|Willem-Alexander]], while the [[Line of succession to the Dutch Throne|heir apparent]] is [[Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange]].

Constitutionally, the monarch is [[head of state]] and has a role in the legislative process, as he has to co-sign every law to make it valid. The monarch is also ''ex officio'' chair of the [[Council of State (Netherlands)|Council of State]], which advises the cabinet on every piece of legislation and is the final court for [[administrative law]]. Although King Willem-Alexander takes these functions seriously, he refrains from exerting his power in these positions. Until 2012, the monarch also played a central role in the [[Dutch cabinet formation|formation of a cabinet]] after a [[Elections in the Netherlands|general election]] or a cabinet crisis. The monarch used to appoint the ''informateur'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Taken informateur |url=https://www.tweedekamer.nl/zo_werkt_de_kamer/verkiezingen_en_kabinetsformatie/taken_informateur |website=Tweedekamer.nl |access-date=7 May 2018}}</ref> who chairs the formation talks, after consulting the parliamentary leaders of all parties represented in the lower house of the States General. Because this advice was a matter of public record, the monarch could not easily take a direction that was contrary to the advice of a majority in parliament. On the other hand, what was actually talked about behind the closed doors of the palace was not known. Upon the conclusion of formation talks, the monarch appoints the cabinet. Upon the fall of a government, the Prime Minister has to request the monarch to dismiss the cabinet.