Dutch government aircraft

Five different models have served as the Dutch government aircraft since 1946 for use by the Dutch royal family and cabinet members. The current model, a Boeing 737 with registration PH-GOV, has been in service since August 2019.^[1]

Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld purchased the first Dutch government aircraft in 1946, a Douglas DC-3 Dakota used in World War II. It was registered as PH-PBA, "PH" being the Netherlands' country code and "PBA" standing for "Prince Bernhard Alpha". Subsequent aircraft were a Fokker F27 Friendship, first used in 1961 and registered as PH-PBF, and a Fokker F28 Fellowship, first used in 1972 and registered as PH-PBX. A Fokker F70 Executive Jet was presented in March 1996.^[2] Its registration, PH-KBX, referred to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (koningin being the Dutch word for "queen").^[3] While early usage was mostly by the royal family, by 2016 the government aircraft was used for 80% for flights by government ministers and state secretaries, compared to 20% for the royal family.^[2]

In 2014, the government established a protocol for air movement priority: the head of state is given precedence, followed by the prime minister, ministers, and then other members of the royal family.^[2]