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Brussels, November 4th 1973:

"This is the NOS from Brussels. On both NOS TV1 and NOS TV2 as on all radiostations of NOS. an announcement by prime minister Den Uyl." "Good evening, Ladies and gentlemen.For the first time since 1945, a new generation of Dutch grow up with the knowledge of lack. Luckily no lack of food but lack of energy. Due to the political events in the Middle East the Arab countries have decided to stop oil deliveries to the Netherlands....."

Groningen, November 4th 1973

During a visit to Groningen, King Leopold III suffered a severe heart attack, now he is remaining at the Groningen University hospital. His sons Baudoin and Albert are on their way to Groningen. Princess Joséphine and Queen Astrid were with the king as he suffered his heartattack. Quietly they are listening to the speech of Den Uyl. "What a bloody fool that Leburton was. Allowing this to happen. Only to please the CVP of Gaston Eyskens and Dries van Agt." Queen Astrid was keen to keep Leopold calm but Leopold was adament. I survived two world wars I twice had to rebuild this country..... I will manage this. Later that night Leopold III died in his sleep.

Antwerp, November 5th 1973

"WHAT?!!, did he had to die on Election Day?" Joop den Uyl was shocked. Surely a royal death on Election Day was not the best scenario to get people voting. "These elections can't be stopped. They were afterall suggested by the King." So the elections will go on. But I will be honest to the public. Call Prince Baudoin. We need to call him to become the Third King of the Dutch.......

Hilversum, November 5th 1973

"This is the NOS from Hilversum. These are the both television channels of the NOS. All three national radio channels and all regional stations of the NOS." All normal programming has been suspended to bring you the news of the death of our beloved king Leopold III. The king who strenghtened the unity of our country and who saw us through two world wars died peacefully in his sleep. He was surrounded by his wife and children. The task of leading our nation is now upon Baudoin, who has accepted this heavy task. King Leopold III is dead! Long live king Baudoin! God bless the Netherlands.


After the Last Post and the Brabanconne prime minister Den Uyl addressed the nation in Dutch and French in which he gave hommage to the live and deeds of King Leopold III. The Dutch were in deep mourning. They lost the hero van Ieper and Passchendale. They lost their King who was steadfast when the nazis ruled the Netherlands. The King who would personnaly go to Zeeland to oversee the rescue operations after that horrendous flood of 1953.

Many would think back to the dark days of the war and many Dutch parent would teach their kids why they had a multi-lingual country and how that came to be....

It started with a rather disfunctional King from the House of Orange. Willem III
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