Youth and education

Princess Laurentien started primary school in Groningen. Her family then moved to The Hague, where she completed her primary education. She spent four years at the Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet, and then transferred to the Eerste Vrijzinnige Christelijk Lyceum, both in The Hague. After a few months there, she moved with her family to Japan, where her father had been appointed representative of the European Union. In 1984, she passed the Baccalauréat A examinations at the Lycée français in Tokyo.

Princess Laurentien studied history at Groningen University, completing her foundation year in 1986. In 1989, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Queen Mary College, London. In July 1991, she obtained her Master of Journalism degree at the University of California at Berkeley with a dissertation on street prostitution in San Francisco.

During her studies, she had several work experience placements in journalism: with the Haagsche Courant in 1986, CNN in Washington D.C. in 1988/1989 and CAL radio in Berkeley in 1990.