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Queen Beatrix Abdicates in the Netherlands Queen Beatrix Abdicates in the Netherlands
(35 minutes later)
AMSTERDAM — To the cheers of some 20,000 people crammed shoulder-to-shoulder outside the royal palace here, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated on Tuesday after a 33-year reign, handing over to her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, who became the country’s first king in 123 years. AMSTERDAM — To the cheers of tens of thousands of people crammed shoulder to shoulder outside the royal palace here, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated on Tuesday after a 33-year reign, handing over to her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, the country’s first king in 123 years.
Sitting at a long table in a chandeliered chamber, Beatrix became, with the stroke of a pen, the third successive Dutch monarch to withdraw as the ruling head of the House of Orange-Nassau. On Dam Square outside the palace, her subjects had been gathering for hours, many of them clad in orange, the royal color, to watch the brief ceremony on large television screens. With the stroke of a pen as she sat on a gilt chair at a long red baize table under chandeliers in an ornate chamber, Beatrix became the third successive Dutch monarch to withdraw as the ruling head of the House of Orange-Nassau. On Dam Square outside the palace, her subjects had been gathering for hours, many of them clad in orange, the royal color, to watch the brief ceremony on large television screens.
On the eve of the ceremony, Beatrix, 75, told her subjects on Monday that she had “feelings of deep gratitude” to them and that their allegiance had given her strength. Beatrix, 75, had told her subjects on Monday that she had “feelings of deep gratitude” to them and that their allegiance had given her strength.
Her 46-year-old son, she said, is “ready in every way” to assume the largely ceremonial monarchy, which has lost the political influence it once wielded in the meditation of coalition governments, and remains generally popular, with opinion surveys showing almost four-fifths of Dutch people in favor of retaining the institution. Her 46-year-old son, she said, is “ready in every way” to assume the largely ceremonial monarchy, which has lost the political influence it once wielded in the mediation of coalition governments, and remains generally popular.
The abdication came on Queen’s Day, a public holiday in the Netherlands. The 2,000 guests at the ceremony included Britain’s Prince Charles and Crown Princess Masako of Japan. For most of the hundreds of thousands of people expected to crowd Amsterdam for the occasion, the day was planned as a carnival with music, concerts and street parties. “Monarchy is what unites us and makes us Dutch. This is a great day,” said Bart Koops, an executive at a bed company and a fervent royalist. Dressed in an orange suit in honor of the royal family, he joined the throng of other revelers early on Tuesday. “The monarchy is a point of stability and unity. Politicians just fight each other.”
The new king took over immediately after his mother signed the act of abdication. His Argentine-born wife, Maxima, 41, a former banker, became queen, and the trio appeared before the people in spring sunlight on a flower-bedecked balcony at the royal palace on Dam Square. He said that, in contrast to the British royal family, Dutch royals were far less formal and in tune with the open, easygoing spirit of the Netherlands. “Look at the countries that don’t have royalty. They are missing something,” he said.
After signing the formal declaration of abdication shortly after 10 a.m., Beatrix, the new king and his Argentine-born wife emerged onto a flower-bedecked balcony in front of the square to uproarious cheers from the crowd. Church bells rang out across the city.
The former queen, now Princess Beatrix, clutched the hands of her son and daughter-in-law before the national anthem was played and the trio moved on to a swearing-in ceremony at the nearby 600-year-old Nieuwe Kerk, or new church, sealing the transition without a formal coronation.The former queen, now Princess Beatrix, clutched the hands of her son and daughter-in-law before the national anthem was played and the trio moved on to a swearing-in ceremony at the nearby 600-year-old Nieuwe Kerk, or new church, sealing the transition without a formal coronation.
An anti-monarchist activist, Hans Maessan, stood alone in Dam Square waving a sign: “No Monarchy, More Democracy.” Instead of wearing orange like everyone around him, he wore a white shirt bearing the words “I Don’t Want Him.” He conceded that the balance of opinion was running against his cause but said that even republicans like a good party.
“We want to make the party better,” he said. “Monarchy is a fairy tale, but the real fairy tale is that Barack Obama can become president of the United States. That is the fairy tale of democracy.” All the hoopla surrounding the abdication and anger at the cost of the monarchy at a time of recession, he said, had boosted opposition to the institution, and he predicted that King Willem-Alexander would be “the last Dutch king.”
Opinion polls, however, show overwhelming public support for the institution of the monarchy.
“Monarchy is a big part of our sense of ourselves. The Dutch don’t want to do away with the monarchy,” said Bas Heijne, a prominent Dutch commentator. “If you are rational you say: ‘This is nonsense. We should get rid of it.’ But the anti-monarchists underestimate the way the monarchy is part of Dutch life, of being Dutch.”
Royalists, many wearing inflatable orange crowns handed out for free by the national lottery, roared as pictures of Beatrix and her son appeared on large video screens around Dam Square. Brushing aside complaints by republicans that the monarchy costs too much money, Helga De Groot, said: “This is not a waste of money. We all need a good party and to feel good. This is the best side of Holland.”
A friend, wearing an orange wig, said she came mainly for the party. “You can feel the atmosphere,” she sad. “Everyone is so happy.”
The abdication came on Queen’s Day, a public holiday in the Netherlands. The 2,000 guests at the ceremony included Britain’s Prince Charles and Crown Princess Masako of Japan. For most of the hundreds of thousands of people expected to crowd Amsterdam for the occasion, the event was planned as a carnival with music, concerts and street parties.
The new king took over immediately after his mother signed the act of abdication. His wife, Maxima, 41, a former banker, became queen.
Willem-Alexander, once chastised by the Dutch press for his personal life, became Europe’s youngest monarch, and he has vowed that he and Queen Maxima will not be “protocol fetishists.”Willem-Alexander, once chastised by the Dutch press for his personal life, became Europe’s youngest monarch, and he has vowed that he and Queen Maxima will not be “protocol fetishists.”
“People can address me as they wish because then they can feel comfortable,” he has been quoted as saying, describing his role as being “a king that can bring society together, representative and encouraging in the 21st century.”“People can address me as they wish because then they can feel comfortable,” he has been quoted as saying, describing his role as being “a king that can bring society together, representative and encouraging in the 21st century.”
The authorities have said that anti-royalists may demonstrate if they wish at several designated locations in Amsterdam, but, news reports said, any protests are expected to be far less violent than those surrounding the enthronement of Beatrix in 1980 during a housing crisis. The authorities have said that anti-royalists may demonstrate if they wish at several designated locations in Amsterdam, but any protests are expected to be far less violent than those surrounding the enthronement of Beatrix in 1980 during a housing crisis.
More recently her reign has been overshadowed by personal grief. Last year, her youngest son, Prince Friso, was left in a coma after a skiing accident in Austria.More recently her reign has been overshadowed by personal grief. Last year, her youngest son, Prince Friso, was left in a coma after a skiing accident in Austria.
The ceremonies surrounding her abdication are supposed to reach a climax on Tuesday evening with a water pageant. While some Europeans — particularly in Britain — accept a level of pomp and ceremony from their royal houses, others, as in the Netherlands, seem to want their monarchs to be far less formal while maintaining a regal aura. The ceremonies surrounding her abdication are supposed to reach a climax on Tuesday evening with a water pageant.
The enthronement of Willem-Alexander is seen by monarchy watchers as a token of a newer generation of royals at a time when the fortunes of Europe’s crowned heads seem uneven. The enthronement of Willem-Alexander was seen by monarchy watchers as a token of a newer generation of royals at a time when the fortunes of Europe’s crowned heads seem uneven.
In Britain, Queen Elizabeth II, 87, has made a sustained effort to secure the House of Windsor’s place in British society, and last year she celebrated a 60-year reign, buttressed most recently by the popularity of her grandson Prince William, whose marriage to Kate Middleton in 2011 inspired a surge of affection.In Britain, Queen Elizabeth II, 87, has made a sustained effort to secure the House of Windsor’s place in British society, and last year she celebrated a 60-year reign, buttressed most recently by the popularity of her grandson Prince William, whose marriage to Kate Middleton in 2011 inspired a surge of affection.
In Spain, by contrast, King Juan Carlos garnered harsh criticism by heading out on an expensive hunting safari at a time when citizens faced the deprivations of Europe’s financial crisis.In Spain, by contrast, King Juan Carlos garnered harsh criticism by heading out on an expensive hunting safari at a time when citizens faced the deprivations of Europe’s financial crisis.
In Belgium, the Netherlands’ neighbor, the abdication of Beatrix has amplified calls for King Albert, 78, to follow her into retirement, allowing Crown Prince Philippe to ascend the throne. Elsewhere, Sweden’s royal family has been beset with scandal but its prospects of survival are generally thought to have been enhanced by the popularity of Crown Princess Victoria, who married her personal trainer in 2010.In Belgium, the Netherlands’ neighbor, the abdication of Beatrix has amplified calls for King Albert, 78, to follow her into retirement, allowing Crown Prince Philippe to ascend the throne. Elsewhere, Sweden’s royal family has been beset with scandal but its prospects of survival are generally thought to have been enhanced by the popularity of Crown Princess Victoria, who married her personal trainer in 2010.

Andrew Higgins reported from Amsterdam and Alan Cowell from London.

Andrew Higgins reported from Amsterdam and Alan Cowell from London.