Principality of Arkel
Principality of Arkel (Prinsdom Arkel) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |||||||||
| Motto: Bereik meer dan mogelijk is | |||||||||
| Anthem: "Nationaal volkslied Prinsdom Arkel" | |||||||||
 Arkelian Territory Shown in Red | |||||||||
| Capital and largest city | Leerdam | ||||||||
| Official languages | Dutch | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Arkels | ||||||||
| Government | Constitutional Monarchy | ||||||||
• Prince | Maarten of Arkel | ||||||||
| Legislature | Parliament of Arkel | ||||||||
| Establishment | December 2009 | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• Census | 12 | ||||||||
| Currency | Flandri | ||||||||
| Time zone | (UTC-8 Pacific Time) | ||||||||
Website Website | |||||||||
| |||||||||
The Principality of Arkel was a Dutch territorial micronation. Arkel was a former vassal of the Grand Duchy of Flandrensis. Arkel borders Flandrensis and Westarctica at Dean Island and West Antarctica at the Ross Ice Shelf. Arkel was a member of the Flandrensisian Commonwealth but became inactive since 2016.
History
Arkel was founded with the help of Flandrensis under the name the ‘Heerschap Arkel’. Later the name changed into the ‘Heerlijkheid Arkel’. On 6 June 2009 the leader ask the Government of Flandrensis if they want to take over the Heerlijkheid Arkel. Since 1 July 2009 Arkel would be a Principality and a vassal of the Grand Duchy of Flandrensis. Between 24 October 2010 and 30 April 2016, Arkel was a member of the Flandrensisian Commonwealth. After Flandrensis disbanded the Commonwealth, Arkel became inactive.
Leader
The leader was Prince Maarten of Arkel, he was also the count of Mount-Siple and Junker of Drakenhove. He is a descendant of the first counts of Flanders and the lords of Arkel, a noble family in the medieval Netherlands. Based on his pedigree he founded Arkel. Prince Maarten was the Minister of Foreign Affairs Grand Duchy of Flandrensis.
On 15 October 2012, Niels van Arkel took over the throne, but after the dissolution of the Flandrensisian Commonwealth the throne returned in 2016 to Maarten. He has since stated that the nation is defunct.
Anthem
The national anthem was called: Arkel, mijn vaderland (Arkel, my fatherland). The anthem can be found on YouTube .
Lyrics in Dutch:
Arkel is mijn vaderland
Mijn dierbare vaderland voor altijd
Ik zou er nooit meer weg kunnen
Aan dit land ben ik verknocht
Voor Prins en het ganse Rijk
Ben ik bereid alles te doen
Want Arkel is mijn vaderland
En dat blijft het voor altijd
Dit land zal ik liefhebben
Dit is onvoorwaardelijk
Dit land zal ik dienen
Want Arkel is mijn vaderland
En dat blijft het voor altijd
Zo lang als ik leef.
Arkel is mijn vaderland
Mijn dierbare vaderland voor altijd
Ja, Arkel is mijn vaderland
En dat blijft het voor altijd
Voor Prins en het ganse Rijk
Ben ik bereid alles te doen
Ik zou er nooit meer weg kunnen
Aan dit land ben ik verknocht
Ja, Arkel is mijn vaderland
En dat blijft het voor altijd (3x)
Ross Ice Shelf
On the forum of Flandrensis, the Prince asked for another piece of land. The Azusan Commonwealth gave Arkel the northwestern part of the Ross Ice Shelf (one third of the total). The Arkel Ross Ice Shelf was an extraordinary part of the state system. Currently, the Government of Arkel and the Prince were the highest power in the Arkel Ross Ice Shelf. The parliament had no influence.