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| Queen Beatrix Abdicates in the Netherlands | Queen Beatrix Abdicates in the Netherlands |
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| AMSTERDAM — To the cheers of tens of thousands of people crammed shoulder to shoulder outside the royal palace here, Willem-Alexander of the House of Orange-Nassau became the Netherlands’ first king in 123 years on Tuesday as his mother, Queen Beatrix, ended a 33-year reign with the stroke of a pen, signing the act of abdication in a chandeliered chamber at the royal palace. | AMSTERDAM — To the cheers of tens of thousands of people crammed shoulder to shoulder outside the royal palace here, Willem-Alexander of the House of Orange-Nassau became the Netherlands’ first king in 123 years on Tuesday as his mother, Queen Beatrix, ended a 33-year reign with the stroke of a pen, signing the act of abdication in a chandeliered chamber at the royal palace. |
| Seated on a gilded chair at a long red baize table and flanked by the Dutch cabinet, Beatrix, 75, became the third successive Dutch queen to abdicate, changing her title to princess as supporters feting the continuity of the monarchy thronged Dam Square outside the palace. Many had gathered there for hours, clad in orange, the royal color, to watch the brief, long-planned relatively low-key event on large television screens. | |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| In contrast to the British royal family, he said, Dutch royals are far less formal and in tune with the open, easygoing spirit of the Netherlands. “Look at the countries that don’t have royalty,” he said. “They are missing something.” | In contrast to the British royal family, he said, Dutch royals are far less formal and in tune with the open, easygoing spirit of the Netherlands. “Look at the countries that don’t have royalty,” he said. “They are missing something.” |
| In another contrast with the British, experts noted, abdication is not regarded here as a disgrace in the same way as, for instance, King Edward VIII’s departure in London in 1936 unfolded in an atmosphere of crisis and scandal over his determination to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée. | In another contrast with the British, experts noted, abdication is not regarded here as a disgrace in the same way as, for instance, King Edward VIII’s departure in London in 1936 unfolded in an atmosphere of crisis and scandal over his determination to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée. |
| 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. | 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 clutched the hands of her son and daughter-in-law before the national anthem was played in advance of 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 clutched the hands of her son and daughter-in-law before the national anthem was played in advance of a swearing-in ceremony at the nearby 600-year-old Nieuwe Kerk, or New Church, sealing the transition without a formal coronation. |
| “Some moments ago I abdicated from the throne,” Beatrix said, seeming to struggle with tears. “I am happy and thankful to present to you your new king.” | “Some moments ago I abdicated from the throne,” Beatrix said, seeming to struggle with tears. “I am happy and thankful to present to you your new king.” |
| Some of the cheers for the royal trio reflected the popularity of the new queen, Maxima, 41, who was born in Argentina and had a career as an investment banker before meeting Willem-Alexander and marrying him in 2002, adding a dash of glamour and romance to an otherwise low-key and at times dowdy royal family. | Some of the cheers for the royal trio reflected the popularity of the new queen, Maxima, 41, who was born in Argentina and had a career as an investment banker before meeting Willem-Alexander and marrying him in 2002, adding a dash of glamour and romance to an otherwise low-key and at times dowdy royal family. |
| At one stage, some politicians here questioned her suitability as a future queen, not because she is a Roman Catholic in this staunchly Protestant country or because she is a commoner, but because she is a daughter of Jorge Zorreguieta, a wealthy rancher and a former deputy agriculture minister under the Argentine military junta in the 1970s. | At one stage, some politicians here questioned her suitability as a future queen, not because she is a Roman Catholic in this staunchly Protestant country or because she is a commoner, but because she is a daughter of Jorge Zorreguieta, a wealthy rancher and a former deputy agriculture minister under the Argentine military junta in the 1970s. |
| Such was the outcry that Mr. Zorreguieta, who has not been directly linked to atrocities under the junta, was forced to stay away from his daughter’s wedding in 2002 after many Dutch politicians and historians said he showed an enthusiasm for military rule that made him a moral accomplice to abuses. | Such was the outcry that Mr. Zorreguieta, who has not been directly linked to atrocities under the junta, was forced to stay away from his daughter’s wedding in 2002 after many Dutch politicians and historians said he showed an enthusiasm for military rule that made him a moral accomplice to abuses. |
| “What happened in that period was terrible,” Maxima said at the time, adding that she abhorred the military regime and “the disappearances, the tortures, the murders and all the other terrible events of that time.” As for her father, she said, “I regret that while doing his best for agriculture, he did so during a bad regime.” | “What happened in that period was terrible,” Maxima said at the time, adding that she abhorred the military regime and “the disappearances, the tortures, the murders and all the other terrible events of that time.” As for her father, she said, “I regret that while doing his best for agriculture, he did so during a bad regime.” |
| In the end, Maxima’s romance with the future king — usually described gushingly as akin to a fairy tale — won over many critics, as did her embrace of Dutch tolerance, her rapid grasp of the Dutch language and her apparent success in transforming her husband’s reputation as a heavy drinker and partygoer from his college days which earned him the nickname “Prince Pils,” for Pilsner beer. | In the end, Maxima’s romance with the future king — usually described gushingly as akin to a fairy tale — won over many critics, as did her embrace of Dutch tolerance, her rapid grasp of the Dutch language and her apparent success in transforming her husband’s reputation as a heavy drinker and partygoer from his college days which earned him the nickname “Prince Pils,” for Pilsner beer. |
| Willem-Alexander has also recovered from a scandal over his purchase of a holiday villa in Mozambique, which he sold last year, and is now widely seen as a sober-minded and responsible professional with a knack for connecting with ordinary people, Dutch experts said. He is regarded as far less cerebral than his mother, a modern dance and art enthusiast, and has mostly kept his views on society and politics to himself. | Willem-Alexander has also recovered from a scandal over his purchase of a holiday villa in Mozambique, which he sold last year, and is now widely seen as a sober-minded and responsible professional with a knack for connecting with ordinary people, Dutch experts said. He is regarded as far less cerebral than his mother, a modern dance and art enthusiast, and has mostly kept his views on society and politics to himself. |
| With his mother’s abdication, the new king, a water management specialist by profession, became Europe’s youngest monarch, and he has vowed that he and Queen Maxima will not be “protocol fetishists.” Dutch media reported that Queen Maxima will attend the opening of a conference this summer on same-sex marriage, which has been legal here for years. The issue stirs no controversy in the Netherlands but is still a source of friction in many other European countries. | With his mother’s abdication, the new king, a water management specialist by profession, became Europe’s youngest monarch, and he has vowed that he and Queen Maxima will not be “protocol fetishists.” Dutch media reported that Queen Maxima will attend the opening of a conference this summer on same-sex marriage, which has been legal here for years. The issue stirs no controversy in the Netherlands but is still a source of friction in many other European countries. |
| On Tuesday, 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 liked a good party. | On Tuesday, 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 liked 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.” He predicted that Willem-Alexander would be “the last Dutch king.” | “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.” He predicted that Willem-Alexander would be “the last Dutch king.” |
| Opinion polls, however, show overwhelming public support for the institution of the monarchy. | 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.” | “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 free by the national lottery, roared as pictures of Beatrix and her son appeared on large video screens around Dam Square. | Royalists, many wearing inflatable orange crowns handed out free by the national lottery, roared as pictures of Beatrix and her son appeared on large video screens around Dam Square. |
| The abdication came on Queen’s Day, a public holiday in the Netherlands. The 2,000 guests at the ceremony included Prince Charles of Britain and Crown Princess Masako of Japan, among royal guests from 18 countries. For most of the hundreds of thousands of people crowding Amsterdam for the occasion, the event was planned as a carnival with music, concerts and street parties. | The abdication came on Queen’s Day, a public holiday in the Netherlands. The 2,000 guests at the ceremony included Prince Charles of Britain and Crown Princess Masako of Japan, among royal guests from 18 countries. For most of the hundreds of thousands of people crowding Amsterdam for the occasion, the event was planned as a carnival with music, concerts and street parties. |
| As queen, Beatrix won plaudits from liberal-minded Dutch for quietly championing cultural and ethnic diversity, a cause that has come under increasing threat from populist, anti-immigration politicians. | As queen, Beatrix won plaudits from liberal-minded Dutch for quietly championing cultural and ethnic diversity, a cause that has come under increasing threat from populist, anti-immigration politicians. |
| “This kind of worldview has been under siege in Holland for 10 years now” from populist politicians, said Mr. Heijne, the commentator. | “This kind of worldview has been under siege in Holland for 10 years now” from populist politicians, said Mr. Heijne, the commentator. |
| When Geert Wilders, a nationalist firebrand who has demanded that the Koran be banned, criticized the queen for wearing a head scarf during a visit early last year to a mosque in Oman, the monarch derided his complaints as a “real nonsense,” a put-down that was widely seen as signaling royal unease with the rise of intolerant populist politics. | When Geert Wilders, a nationalist firebrand who has demanded that the Koran be banned, criticized the queen for wearing a head scarf during a visit early last year to a mosque in Oman, the monarch derided his complaints as a “real nonsense,” a put-down that was widely seen as signaling royal unease with the rise of intolerant populist politics. |
| Mr. Wilders’s Freedom Party fared poorly in an election last year, losing a number of seats, but it is now the country’s most popular political force, according to opinion polls. | Mr. Wilders’s Freedom Party fared poorly in an election last year, losing a number of seats, but it is now the country’s most popular political force, according to opinion polls. |
| The swearing-in 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. | The swearing-in 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 troubled by 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. |