History

-	Since 1841
-	Fourteen directors

In the 17th and 18th centuries the stadholders had their own office or secretariat. This ceased to exist when the French invaded the Netherlands in 1795. Following the departure of the French the secretariat was reinstated in 1815, initially together with a State Secretariat. By Royal Decree of 22 December 1840 King William II merged the two secretariats to form a new institution known as the ‘Kabinet des Konings’ (King’s Office). From then on the Office served as the constitutional channel of communication between the King and his ministers.