Pieter van Vollenhoven facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pieter van Vollenhoven
Van Vollenhoven in 2003
Born	(1939-04-30) 30 April 1939 (age 86) Schiedam, Netherlands
Alma mater	Leiden University
Occupation	Emeritus Professor
Organization	Dutch Transport Safety Board Dutch Safety Board
Title	Master of Laws
Spouse(s)	Princess Margriet of the Netherlands ​ (m. 1967)​
Children	Prince Maurits Prince Bernhard Prince Pieter-Christiaan Prince Floris
Parent(s)	Pieter van Vollenhoven Sr. Jacoba Gijsbertha Stuyling de Lange

Pieter van Vollenhoven Jr. was born on April 30, 1939. He is married to Princess Margriet of the Netherlands. This means he is a member of the Dutch royal house through his marriage.

Early Life and Education

Pieter van Vollenhoven was born in Schiedam, a city in the Netherlands. He is the second son of Pieter van Vollenhoven Sr. and Jacoba Gijsbertha Stuylingh de Lange. His family has a long history in the Netherlands.

He went to high school in Rotterdam. After that, he studied law at the Leiden University. He finished his studies in 1965. Then, he worked as a legal officer for the Netherlands Council of State. This council advises the government on laws.

In 1966, he joined the Royal Netherlands Air Force for his military service. He became a military pilot the next year.

Working for Safety

Pieter van Vollenhoven is well-known in the Netherlands for his work on safety. He used to be the head of the Dutch Safety Board. He retired from this important role in February 2011.

He first became the head of boards that looked into road and rail accidents. After some big accidents, like the Bijlmer and Hercules disasters, people realized a single group was needed. This group would investigate all accidents related to transportation.

This led to the creation of the Transportation Safety Council. Mr. Van Vollenhoven was its first chairman. He believed that there should be one board to investigate all safety issues, not just transportation. His efforts helped create the general Dutch Safety Board. He became its first chairman.

Teaching and Other Roles

Because of his deep knowledge in safety, the University of Twente made Mr. Van Vollenhoven a professor. This happened on October 1, 2005. He teaches about policy research, which is part of risk management. He even suggested creating a special government minister for safety.

In 1989, Mr. Van Vollenhoven helped start the Dutch Victim Support Fund. He is also the chairman of this fund, which helps people who have been victims of crimes or accidents. He also leads other important groups, like the Nationaal Groenfonds and the National Restorationfund.

Important Investigations

As the head of the Safety Board, Mr. Van Vollenhoven led investigations into major events. One was the Schipholbrand, a fire at a facility for immigrants. His report on this fire was very critical. It even led to two government ministers resigning.

He also led the investigation into the Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 plane crash. He made sure the investigation was fair and independent. A person from the US National Transportation Safety Board once told him: "The world is a safer place because of your work and leadership."

Hobbies and Interests

Pieter van Vollenhoven loves playing the piano. In 1986, he formed a music group called De Gevleugelde Vrienden (The Winged Friends). He played with two famous pianists. They gave many concerts each year to raise money for the Victim Support Fund. Their music even earned them four gold records! He still performs concerts today.

He is also an active pilot and enjoys diving. In 2005, he had a small accident while diving but recovered well. He is also a talented photographer. His photos have been used to create calendars. These calendars helped raise money for the Victim Support Fund.

Health Update

In May 2017, Mr. Van Vollenhoven was diagnosed with a type of skin cancer called Melanoma. He had it removed at a hospital in Amsterdam. Later that year, he had another melanoma removed.

Marriage and Family Life

Pieter van Vollenhoven married Princess Margriet of the Netherlands on January 10, 1967. Their wedding took place in The Hague at the St. James Church. He was the first person in the Dutch Royal House who was not from a royal or noble family. Because of this, he did not receive any royal titles. He is formally known as "Mister Van Vollenhoven" or "Professor Van Vollenhoven."

The couple lives in Het Loo House, near the Het Loo Palace. They have four sons:

• Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven (born April 17, 1968). He married Marilène van den Broek.
• Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven (born December 25, 1969). He married Annette Sekrève.
• Prince Pieter-Christiaan of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven (born March 22, 1972). He married Anita van Eijk.
• Prince Floris of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven (born April 10, 1975). He married Aimée Söhngen.

The children of Prince Maurits use the family name Van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven. His other grandchildren are simply called van Vollenhoven.

Awards and Recognition

Coat of arms

Pieter van Vollenhoven has received many awards and honors. These awards recognize his important work and contributions, both in the Netherlands and around the world.

Country	Date	Appointment	Ribbon	Other
Netherlands	29 April 2004	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
	10 January 1967	Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange
	10 March 1966	Wedding Medal of Princess Beatrix, and Claus von Amsberg
	1980	The Netherlands Coronation Medal 1980
		Medal visiting Netherlands Antilles 1980
	2002	Royal Wedding Medal 2002
	Officer's Long Service Decoration (The Netherlands), with Roman numeral L
	2013	King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal 2013
Belgium		Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
Cameroon		Grand Cordon of Order of Merit
Germany		Grand Cross First class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Finland		Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
France		Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit
Italy		Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Ivory Coast		Grand Cross of the National Order
Japan		Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure
Jordan		Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance
Luxembourg		Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
		Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown
		Commemorative Medal of the marriage of TRH Prince Jean and Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
Norway		Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
Poland	2012	Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Portugal		Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry
Socialist Republic of Romania		Grand Cross of the Order of 23 August
Senegal		Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lion

Honorary Citizen

On June 12, 2004, Pieter van Vollenhoven was made an Honorary citizen of the town of Vollenhove. This is a special title given to people who have done great things for a town.