Anthropology of the Dutch: nobility in The Netherlands 

Interesting -- and 'tastefully' produced -- but disappointingly superficial. It is clear that, if there is one feature that's common to this nobility, it is that they don't need to work for a living. Fair enough. But, I would have liked to learn a little more on what impact, if any, the Dutch nobility have on the current governance of The Netherlands. e.g. -- What influence do they have on the Dutch 'Deep State', if there is a Deep State that is Dutch? i.e. the relevant Deep State may well be pan-European, since this is a relatively small country. -- How much of the large 'Dutch' corporations does this nobility own? e.g. Royal Dutch Shell, ING, Unilever, Ahold, Aegon, Rabobank, Philips, Gas Terra, SHV, Heineken ... see www.dutchnews.nl/features/2017/09/banks-bulbs-beer-and-oil-the-10-largest-dutch-companies/ -- How much of their assets/investments are overseas? Post WW-II and through the 1980 's the Dutch were the largest investors in the US. -- What are their views on the global geo-politics of the day? e.g. US imperialism/neo-colonialism, NATO expansionism, fear of Russia, manipulation/fear of Islamic fundamentalism, 'humanitarian' intervention, immigration, EU erosion of national identity, global neoliberalism/austerity ... Do they see themselves -- long-term -- as needing the 'protection' of the US? -- How much free-loading, if any, do they get to do off the Dutch state/tax-payers? In the name of tradition, of course. Nederland's Patriciaat, informally known as Het Blauwe Boekje (the blue book), is a book series published annually since 1910, containing the genealogies of important Dutch patrician families. It is published by the Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie (CBG) in The Hague. Can a commoner reach these heights? Would the good lady fingering herself in the summerhouse accept the assistance of a commoner? A well-mannered, nicely-dressed, sufficiently charming commoner. It may be that this nobility is wealthy and powerful enough to feel themselves insulated from these issues of import. But I find it hard to believe that the Dutch nobility -- or ANY nobility -- would allow these matters to be decided by the democratic will of commoners.