Dutch queen will step down

[LexusInfernus 908]

Hmm, Im surprised that non of the other Dutch simtropolis members has posted this topic yet.

Yes, the Dutch queen announced yesterday that she will step down as queen so her son, the crown prince can take over. She said it was time for the next generation to step forward and do its job.

Im sad to see her leave. I always liked our queen. Professional, yet very engaged with people in times of need. A true mother of the nation so to speak. And I always liked her moderating influence on the government, though the government took that power away from her.

[dazza262 133]

Very noble of Her to step aside for Her son.

I can't see our British Queen doing that any time soon

[Meg 368]

I hope you like her son as much as you like her.

[LexusInfernus 908]

I think the son is more relaxed. Like, easier to talk to. While the queen did a great job and she definitely had a very human side, she also had this air of sophistication and professionalism that in my mind always made her look a bit more distant. Like she was above everything, in a good way. Her son seems a little more down with the common people, but that might change once he is 'crowned'.

Anyways, my uncle works in the military and he met the crown prince a few times. Going by what my uncle says, he is a pretty awesome guy, knows his stuff. So yeah, I think the crown prince is going to be a good king.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Don't expect the easy going prince to be less formal than his mother. "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown". If the Dutch crown is as hard-working as the British one, he will become the head of a very complex and busy institution. It will be good to have his mother around for guidance for a few years.

[Meastro444 1]

While it is a big thing here in Holland it's not controversial at all, at least for us. Most of us will miss her, but we celebrate her abdication and we will celebrate the crowning (for the lack of a better word, apparently our monarchs don't get crowned) of our new King.

We don't want Beatrix to go, but it's a good decision and it was hers to make. We are satisfied.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

While it is a big thing here in Holland it's not controversial at all, at least for us. Most of us will miss her, but we celebrate her abdication and we will celebrate the crowning (for the lack of a better word, apparently our monarchs don't get crowned) of our new King.

We don't want Beatrix to go, but it's a good decision and it was hers to make. We are satisfied.

Good grief! No public ceremonial at all? Not even a church service?

BTW, there are photos somewhere in the archive of Queen Juliana shopping in Montreal at the outdoor markets during WW II. We were glad to have her, and thanks for the tulips.

[MandelSoft 2,769]

Yes, there is a public ceremony at April 30. However, our kings and queens don't get really crowned, but symbolism will still be all over the place. There will be festivities

Beatrix was a good queen. Being 75 now, it may be time to step down and end your job while you're still in good health. "It's time for a new generation," she said in her speech. Crown Prince Willem-Alexander is 45 years old now, so he has plenty of years to go And his wife is very popular amongst the dutch people...

Best,

Maarten

[astronelson 339]

While it is a big thing here in Holland it's not controversial at all, at least for us. Most of us will miss her, but we celebrate her abdication and we will celebrate the crowning (for the lack of a better word, apparently our monarchs don't get crowned) of our new King.

There are a few possible "better words". Investiture, inauguration, enthronement and coronation. Investiture and inauguration are general terms for taking office. Enthronement is more technically accurate if a crown is not involved but a throne still is; coronation is the traditional term for monarchies and (in common usage) does not necessarily require a crown.

[Meastro444 1]

I should have said that I didn't know a better for it, not even in Dutch.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I should have said that I didn't know a better for it, not even in Dutch.

How about "verheffing tot de troon"?

[JanYpe 17]

While it is a big thing here in Holland it's not controversial at all, at least for us. Most of us will miss her, but we celebrate her abdication and we will celebrate the crowning (for the lack of a better word, apparently our monarchs don't get crowned) of our new King.

There are a few possible "better words". Investiture, inauguration, enthronement and coronation. Investiture and inauguration are general terms for taking office. Enthronement is more technically accurate if a crown is not involved but a throne still is; coronation is the traditional term for monarchies and (in common usage) does not necessarily require a crown.

Investiture is the word used in the official background information.

While it is a big thing here in Holland it's not controversial at all, at least for us. Most of us will miss her, but we celebrate her abdication and we will celebrate the crowning (for the lack of a better word, apparently our monarchs don't get crowned) of our new King.

We don't want Beatrix to go, but it's a good decision and it was hers to make. We are satisfied.

Good grief! No public ceremonial at all? Not even a church service?

BTW, there are photos somewhere in the archive of Queen Juliana shopping in Montreal at the outdoor markets during WW II. We were glad to have her, and thanks for the tulips.

There'll be a ceremony in the Nieuwe Kerk, next to the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, in the form of a joint session of the two Houses of the States General and in front of an army of guests in their classiest suits and silliest hats. As seen here at the last ceremony in 1980:

"During the investiture the new King is confirmed in office and swears to be faithful to the Constitution and to faithfully discharge the duties of his office. In return, the members of the two Houses swear or affirm that they will uphold the doctrine that the ministers, and not the King, are responsible for acts of government and that they will uphold the rights of the monarchy.

...

In addition to the Dutch constitution, the credence table beside the throne bears three regalia, symbols of the dignity and authority of the monarch. These are the crown (symbolising sovereignty and dignity), the sceptre (authority) and the orb (the territory of the Kingdom). The other two regalia - the sword of state (symbolising power) and the standard of the kingdom bearing the coat of arms of the Netherlands - are carried by two senior military officers. These regalia have been in use since the investiture of King Willem II in 1840."

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Thanks, Jan. I was beginning to think it would be something without much ceremony. In the changing of the head of state, any country should have some kind of blow-out. I guess you will have some nice (formal?) receptions and parties afterwards.

I hope the country enjoys its celebration. It is nice to have it without a funeral preceding.

[JanYpe 17]

Of course what you can't see in that picture of the 1980 ceremony is the noise of helicopters overhead and sirens in the street.

There'd been a growing housing shortage since the '70s, leading to the rise of a squatters movement. In Amsterdam the shortage was compounded by the large number of empty properties held by speculators. Unemployment was on the rise and many were less than pleased with the fact that the ministry responsible for public housing was spending money renovating royal palaces instead of tackling the shortage. So the day of the investiture was also going to be a day of protest, with the motto "no home, no crown!"

Across the city centre there were protests as well as the party. And once the riot police, squatters, students, protesters, football hooligans and Hell's Angels clashed there was indeed some kind of blow-out, which lasted well into the night.

[Meg 368]

Haven't seen pictures like that in a while although it was not that unusual for the times.

[MandelSoft 2,769]

Society was much more wild back then. It seemed to have calmed down during the eighties.

But yes, there will be a big celebration here. Looking forward to it

[LexusInfernus 908]

Ah yes, riots. I believe they were also rioting back when Queen Beatrix married Prince Claus.

I doubt there will be any riots this time. Republicanism was at an all time high back then, while today most people like the royal family and having some form of monarchy. But who knows, it could be that the parties attract hooligans who think its fun to riot.

[Larks2242 251]

Surprises me more countries don't try to overthrow and get rid of the monarchy system,

Also I heard this is the first king since thew 1800s?

[LexusInfernus 908]

Yeah, the reign of the last king ended in 1890.

And why would you want to overthrow a monarchy? I mean, monarchs over here don't have any real power, they look nice when they go on state visits to other countries (and actually help to bring in a load of money) and they are part of our historic culture. Of course, I would understand it if the monarch is more an embarrassment than a benefit, like in Spain.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

People who want to do away with a constitutional Monarch really don't understand what they want. As head of state, monarchs take a considerable ceremonial load off the government. And as has been said, generate tourist dollars. The investment in the monarchy usually pays considerable dividends, some intangible.

The Canadian monarchy costs us very little other than the upkeep of one official residence, and the keep of the Governor General who is there to loosely hold the leash of the Prime Minister. It is reassuring to have someone who can fire the government and call an election, even though it has never been done here. It is our tyranny preventer.