THE HAGUE, 20/09/00 - Next year, the monarchy will cost the Netherlands almost 15 million guilders. This makes expenditure on members of the Royal family some half a million guilders higher than this year, according to the budget for the General Affairs Ministry.

The salaries of the Royal Family keep pace with the development of civil service salaries. Queen Beatrix, Prince Claus, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, Queen Mother Princess Juliana and her husband Prince Bernhard all receive allowances from the State.

The largest sum is reserved for the Queen (7.8 million). Only 1.4 million guilders of this can be regarded as income; the rest is intended for personnel costs (2.9 million), goods, and services (3.5 million guilders).

Prince Claus can look forward to 572,000 guilders next year, while Crown Prince Willem-Alexander will receive 436,000 guilders. Princess Juliana has been allocated 832,000 guilders and Prince Bernhard 400,000.