Netherlands celebrate its new kings, Willem-Alexander and Maxima

Posted On 30 Apr 2013

Willem-Alexander and Maxima

Holland is celebrating the beginning of a new chapter in the dynasty of Orange-Nassau by the hands of the crown prince Willem-Alexander and his wife, Argentine aristocrat Maxima Zorreguieta.

After abdicating the throne on January 28, lead by her for 33 years, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands gives the crown to his son William Alexander, 46, becoming the first man to rule the Netherlands, for more than a century. His wife, Maxima will have the title of queen consort.

The new kings of Holland, with her three daughters, Catherine-Amalia, future heir-, Alexia and Ariane, moved to the Nieuwe Kerk Gothic church, which will host the inauguration ceremony.

The streets were dressed with oranges flowers and tulips, while the balconies and windows of the buildings were decorated with the national red, white and blue flag . Multiple orange balloons were placed in several sites in the city like the Rubens Square.

Souvenir shops offer from T-shirts with the faces of the queen and the prince, to cups, plates, magnets an orange Texan hats.

The countdown to the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the crowning of Willem-Alexander and Maxima began yesterday with a gala dinner that the current monarch offered to several members of royal families and heads of state. Guests included the Princes of Asturias, Felipe and Mathilde of Belgium, Frederik and Mary of Denmark, William and Stephanie of Luxembourg, Haakon and Mette-Marit of Norway, Charles and Camilla of the UK and Victoria and Daniel of Sweden. Also Princes Naruhito and Masako of Japan.