Royal Profile: Princess Laurentien of The Netherlands

Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst now known as Princess Laurentien of The Netherlands was born on 25 May 1966 as the daughter of Laurens Jan Brinkhorst and Jantien Brinkhorst-Heringa {Source}
She is the daughter of  {Source}.

She attended school in The Netherlands, and in Japan{Source}. She received her Baccalauréat from Lycée français in Japan{Source}.She studied history at Groningen University{Source}, earning a foundations degree in 1986{Source}She then attended Queen Mary College, London University, where she studied political science in 1989{Source}.In 1991, she earned a Master of Journalism from the University of California at Berkeley{Source}. She holds a bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a masters in Journalism.

The engagement of Prince Constantijn and Laurentien Brinkhorst was announced on 16 December 2000{Source}.She married Prince Constantijn on 17 May 2001 {Source}. Together, they have three children{Source}:

• Countess Eloise of Oranje-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg (2002)
• Count Claus-Casimir of Oranje-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg(2003)
• Countess Leonore of Oranje-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg (2006)

In addition to her royal duties, she works as a freelance communications consultant {Source}. Since 2008, she has worked for the European Climate Foundation {Source}.In 2009, she set up the Missing Chapter Foundation{Source}. One of the Princess's major causes involved the environment and environmental issues{Source}. She is actively involved with the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), especially with their "Rewildingn Europe" initiative{Source}.On 1 November 2012, she was appointed President of Fauna & Flora International (FFI){Source}{Source} A second major cause for the princess is promoting literacy{Source}. She is chair of the Stichting Lezen & Zchrijven {Source}. On 24 March 2009, Princess Laurentien was designated UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development {Source}.Since 1 February 2011 the Princess has been Chair of the European Commission's High Level Group on Literacy {Source}.She is patron of:

• The Dutch Listening & Braile Library (NLBB)
• The  Dutch language society Genootschap Onze Taal
• Honorary Chair of the Association of Public Libraries.
• President of Fauna & Flora International (FFI).
• President of the European Cultural Foundation.

For a time, she and her family resided in Brussels, while now they have moved back to The Netherlands.

Her middle name, Laurentien is a protmanteau of her parents names- Laurens & Jantien.
She is the daughter-in-law of Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands & Prince Claus.

She speaks Dutch, and probably French, and English fluently. Due to her years in Japan, she may also speak some Japanese.She appears to be close with her sisters-in-law, Queen Maxima & Princess Mabel and mother-in-law, Princess Beatrix.