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Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

Willem-Alexander (Dutch: [ˈʋɪləm aːlɛkˈsɑndər]; Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; born 27 April 1967) is King of the Netherlands, having acceded to the throne following his mother's abdication in 2013.

Willem-Alexander
Willem-Alexander in 2013
King of the Netherlands
Reign30 April 2013 (2013-04-30) – present
Inauguration30 April 2013
PredecessorBeatrix
Heir apparentCatharina-Amalia
Prime MinisterMark Rutte
Born (1967-04-27) 27 April 1967 (age 56)
Utrecht, Netherlands
Spouse
(m. 2002)
Issue
Names
Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand
House
FatherClaus von Amsberg
MotherBeatrix of the Netherlands
ReligionProtestantism (Protestant Church in the Netherlands)
Signature
Military career
Service/branch
Years of service1985–2013
Rank

Willem-Alexander was born in Utrecht as the eldest child of Princess Beatrix and German diplomat Claus van Amsberg. He became Prince of Orange as heir apparent upon his mother's accession as Queen on 30 April 1980, and succeeded her following her abdication on 30 April 2013. He went to public primary and secondary schools in the Netherlands, an international sixth-form college in Wales, served in the Royal Netherlands Navy, and studied history at Leiden University. He married Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti in 2002 and they have three daughters: Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange (born 2003), Princess Alexia (born 2005), and Princess Ariane (born 2007).

Willem-Alexander is interested in sports and international water management issues. Until his accession to the throne, he was a member of the International Olympic Committee (1998–2013),[1] chairman of the Advisory Committee on Water to the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment (2004–2013),[2] and chairman of the Secretary-General of the United Nations' Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (2006–2013).[3][4]

Early life and education edit

 
Prince Willem-Alexander (left) at age 14 and his brother Friso in 1982

Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand was born on 27 April 1967 at the Utrecht University Hospital (now known as the University Medical Center Utrecht) in Utrecht, Netherlands. He is the first child of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus,[5] and the first grandchild of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard. He was the first male Dutch royal baby since the birth of Prince Alexander in 1851, and the first immediate male heir since Alexander's death in 1884.

From birth, Willem-Alexander has held the titles Prince of the Netherlands (Dutch: Prins der Nederlanden), Prince of Orange-Nassau (Dutch: Prins van Oranje-Nassau), and Jonkheer of Amsberg (Dutch: Jonkheer van Amsberg).[5] He was baptised as a member of the Dutch Reformed Church[6] on 2 September 1967[7] in Saint Jacob's Church in The Hague.[8] His godparents are his maternal grandfather Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, his paternal grandmother Gösta Freiin von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen, Prince Ferdinand von Bismarck, former Prime Minister Jelle Zijlstra, Jonkvrouw Renée Röell, and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.[7]

He had two younger brothers: Prince Friso (1968–2013) and Prince Constantijn (born in 1969). He lived with his family at the castle Drakensteyn in the hamlet Lage Vuursche near Baarn from his birth until 1981, when they moved to the larger palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague. His mother, Beatrix, became Queen of the Netherlands in 1980, after his grandmother Juliana abdicated. He then received the title of Prince of Orange as heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the age of 13.[5]

Willem-Alexander attended local state primary school Nieuwe Baarnse Elementary School in Baarn from 1973 to 1979. He went to two different state secondary schools: the Baarns Lyceum in Baarn from 1979 to 1981 and the Eerste Vrijzinnig Christelijk Lyceum in The Hague from 1981 to 1983, and the private sixth-form college United World College of the Atlantic in Wales (1983 to 1985), from which he received his International Baccalaureate.[5][9]

After his military service from 1985 to 1987, Willem-Alexander studied History at Leiden University from 1987 onwards and received his MA degree (doctorandus) in 1993.[10][11] His final thesis was on the Dutch response to France's decision under President Charles de Gaulle to leave NATO's integrated command structure.[5]

Willem-Alexander speaks English, Spanish, French and German (his father's native language, despite never getting German language lessons from him) fluently in addition to his native Dutch.[12]

Military training and career edit

 
Willem-Alexander in the navy uniform of ensign in 1986

Between secondary school and his university education, Willem-Alexander performed military service in the Royal Netherlands Navy from August 1985 until January 1987. He received his training at the Royal Netherlands Naval College and the frigates HNLMS Tromp and HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen, where he was an ensign. In 1988 he received additional training at the ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen and became a lieutenant (junior grade) (wachtofficier).[13]

As a reservist for the Royal Netherlands Navy, Willem-Alexander was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1995, commander in 1997, Captain at Sea in 2001, and commodore in 2005. As a reservist for the Royal Netherlands Army, he was made a major (Grenadiers' and Rifles Guard Regiment) in 1995, and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1997, colonel in 2001, and brigadier general in 2005. As a reservist for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, he was made squadron leader in 1995 and promoted to air commodore in 2005. As a reservist for the Royal Marechaussee, he was made brigadier general in 2005.[9]

Before his investiture as king in 2013, Willem-Alexander was honourably discharged from the armed forces. The government declared that the head of state cannot be a serving member of the armed forces, since the government itself holds supreme command over the armed forces. As king, Willem-Alexander may choose to wear a military uniform with royal insignia, but not with his former rank insignia.[14]

Activities and social interests edit

 
Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima meet Michelle Obama, Barack Obama and Fay Hartog-Levin at the White House in 2009.

Since 1985, when he became 18 years old, Willem-Alexander has been a member of the Council of State of the Netherlands. This is the highest council of the Dutch political system and is chaired by the head of state (then Queen Beatrix).[15]

Willem-Alexander is interested in water management and sports issues. He was an honorary member of the World Commission on Water for the 21st century and patron of the Global Water Partnership, a body established by the World Bank, the UN, and the Swedish Ministry of Development. He was appointed as the Chairperson of the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation on 12 December 2006.[16]

On 10 October 2010, Willem-Alexander and Máxima went to the Netherlands Antilles' capital, Willemstad, to attend and represent his mother, the Queen, at the Antillean Dissolution ceremony.

He was a patron of the Dutch Olympic Games Committee until 1998 when he was made a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). After becoming King, he relinquished his membership and received the Gold Olympic Order at the 125th IOC Session.[17] To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1928 Summer Olympics held in Amsterdam, he had expressed support to bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics.[18]

He was a member of the supervisory board of De Nederlandsche Bank (the Dutch central bank), a member of the Advisory Council of ECP (the information society forum for government, business and civil society), patron of Veterans' Day and held several other patronages and posts.[19]

Reign edit

On 28 January 2013, Beatrix announced her intention of abdicating. On the morning of 30 April 2013, Beatrix signed the instrument of abdication at the Moseszaal (Moses Hall) at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Later that afternoon, Willem-Alexander was inaugurated as king in front of the joint assembly of the States General in a ceremony held at the Nieuwe Kerk.

As king, Willem-Alexander has weekly meetings with the prime minister and speaks regularly with ministers and state secretaries. He also signs all new Acts of Parliament and royal decrees. He represents the kingdom at home and abroad. At the State Opening of Parliament, he delivers the Speech from the Throne, which announces the plans of the government for the parliamentary year. The Constitution requires that the king appoint, dismiss and swear in all government ministers and state secretaries. As king, he is also the President of the Council of State, an advisory body that reviews proposed legislation. In modern practice, the monarch seldom chairs council meetings.[20]

At his accession at age 46, he was Europe's youngest monarch. On the inauguration of Spain's Felipe VI on 19 June 2014, he became, and remains, Europe's second-youngest monarch. He is also the first male monarch of the Netherlands since the death of his great-great-grandfather William III in 1890. Willem-Alexander was one of four new monarchs to take the throne in 2013 along with Pope Francis, the Emir Tamim bin Hamad of Qatar, and King Philippe of Belgium.

Other activities edit

 
Willem-Alexander with his family at the 2012 Summer Olympics, here supporting Ellen van Dijk

Willem-Alexander is an avid pilot and has said that if he had not been a royal, he would have liked to be an airline pilot so he could fly internationally on large-sized aircraft such as the Boeing 747.[21] During the reign of his mother, he regularly flew the Dutch royal aircraft on trips.[22] However, in May 2017, Willem-Alexander revealed that he had served as a first officer on KLM flights for 21 years, flying KLM Cityhopper's Fokker 70s twice a month, even after his accession to the throne. Following KLM's phased retirement of the Fokker 70, he began training to fly Boeing 737s. Willem-Alexander was rarely recognized while in the KLM uniform and wearing the KLM cap, though a few passengers recognized his voice, even though he never gave his name and only welcomed passengers on behalf of the captain and crew.[21][23]

Using the name "W. A. van Buren", one of the least-known titles of the House of Orange-Nassau, he participated in the 1986 Frisian Elfstedentocht, a 200-kilometre-long (120 mi) distance ice skating tour.[24] He ran the New York City Marathon under the same pseudonym in 1992.[25] Willem-Alexander completed both events.

Marriage and children edit

 
Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima kiss at the balcony of the Royal Palace of Amsterdam on their wedding day in 2002.

On 2 February 2002, he married Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. The marriage triggered significant controversy due to the role the bride's father, Jorge Zorreguieta, had in the Argentinian military dictatorship. The couple have three daughters: The Princess of Orange, Princess Alexia, and Princess Ariane.


 
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima with their daughters Princess Catharina-Amalia (left), Princess Alexia (right) and Princess Ariane (center)
Name Date of birth Place of birth Age
Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange (2003-12-07)7 December 2003 The Hague, Netherlands 20
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands (2005-06-26)26 June 2005 The Hague, Netherlands 18
Princess Ariane of the Netherlands (2007-04-10)10 April 2007 The Hague, Netherlands 16

Privacy and the press edit

In an attempt to strike a balance between privacy for the royal family and availability to the press, the Netherlands Government Information Service (RVD) instituted a media code on 21 June 2005 which essentially states that:[26]

  • Photographs of the members of the royal house while performing their duties are always permitted.
  • For other occasions (like holidays or vacations), the RVD will arrange a photo-op on condition that the press leave the family alone for the rest of the activity.

During a ski vacation in Argentina, several photographs were taken of the prince and his family during the private part of their holiday, including one by Associated Press staff photographer Natacha Pisarenko, in spite of the media code, and after a photo opportunity had been provided earlier.[27] The Associated Press decided to publish some of the photos, which were subsequently republished by several Dutch media. Willem-Alexander and the RVD jointly filed suit against the Associated Press on 5 August 2009, and the trial started on 14 August 2009 at the district court in Amsterdam. On 28 August 2009, the district court ruled in favour of the prince and RVD, citing that the couple has a right to privacy, that the pictures in question add nothing to any public debate, and that they are not of any particular value to society since they are not photographs of his family "at work". Associated Press was sentenced to stop further publication of the photographs, on pain of a 1,000 fine per violation with a 50,000 maximum.[28]

Properties edit

From 2003 until 2019, Willem-Alexander and his family lived in Villa Eikenhorst on the De Horsten Estate in Wassenaar.[29] After his mother abdicated and became Princess Beatrix once again, she moved to the castle of Drakensteyn, after which the King and his family moved to the newly renovated monarch's palace of Huis ten Bosch in The Hague in 2019.[30]

Willem-Alexander has a villa near Kranidi, Greece.[31]

Villa in Machangulo edit

On 10 July 2008, the Prince of Orange and Princess Maxima announced that they had invested in a development project on the Mozambican peninsula of Machangulo.[32] The development project was aimed at building an ecologically responsible vacation resort, including a hotel and several luxury holiday homes for investors. The project was to invest heavily in the local economy of the peninsula (building schools and a local clinic) with an eye both towards responsible sustainability and maintaining a local staff.[33] After contacting Mozambican President Armando Guebuza to verify that the Mozambican government had no objections, the couple decided to invest in two villas.[34] In 2009, controversy erupted in parliament and the press about the project and the prince's involvement.[34] Politician Alexander Pechtold questioned the morality of building such a resort in a poor country like Mozambique. After public and parliamentary controversy, the royal couple announced that they had decided to sell the property in Machangulo once their house was completed.[35] In January 2012, it was confirmed that the villa had been sold.[36]

Titles, styles, honours and arms edit

Titles and styles edit

  • 27 April 1967 – 30 April 1980: His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg
  • 30 April 1980 – 30 April 2013: His Royal Highness The Prince of Orange
  • 30 April 2013 – present: His Majesty The King[37]

Willem-Alexander's full title is: His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, etc., etc., etc.[37]

Willem-Alexander is the first Dutch king since Willem III (d. 1890). Willem-Alexander had earlier indicated that when he became king, he would take the name Willem IV,[38] but it was announced in January 2013 that his regnal name would be Willem-Alexander.[39]

Military ranks edit

 
Willem-Alexander in the navy uniform of Commodore at the wedding of the Crown Princess of Sweden and Daniel Westling in June 2010
 
King Willem-Alexander in uniform with the Royal insignia

Royal Netherlands Navy – conscripted

  •   Lieutenant at sea, third class (Ensign) (August 1985 – January 1987)
  •   Lieutenant at sea, second class (Sub-lieutenant) (watch officer, 1988)

Royal Netherlands Navy – reserve

Royal Netherlands Air Force – reserve

Royal Netherlands Army – reserve

Royal Marechaussee – reserve

King's Insignia, all services

Qualifications edit

Honours edit

National edit

Foreign edit

Awards edit

Honorary appointment edit

Arms edit

Coat of arms of Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
 
Notes
As Monarch, Willem-Alexander uses the Greater Coat of Arms of the Realm (Grote Rijkswapen). The components of the coats of arms were updated and further regulated by Queen Wilhelmina in a royal decree of 10 July 1907 and were affirmed by Queen Juliana in a royal decree of 23 April 1980.
Crest
Issuing from a coronet Or, a pair of wings joined Sable each with an arched bend Argent charged with three leaves of the lime-tree stems upward Vert.
Torse
Azure and Or
Helm
Barred helmet
Escutcheon
Azure, billetty Or a lion with a coronet Or armed and langued Gules holding in his dexter paw a sword Argent hilted Or and in the sinister paw seven arrows Argent pointed and bound together Or.
Supporters
Two lions rampant Or armed and langued Gules
Motto
Other elements
The monarch places this coat of arms on a purple mantle, with golden borders and tassels, lined with Ermine. Above the mantle is a purple pavilion again topped with the royal crown.[64] (Note: Although the official blazon states the mantle as purple it often looks like (dark) red. French and German purple contains more red and less blue than American or British purple.)
Banner
  Upon his succession to the throne, Willem-Alexander adopted the (partly modified) Royal Standard of the Netherlands, which is a square orange flag, divided in four-quarters by a nassau-blue cross. All quarters show a white and blue bugle-horn, taken from the coat of arms of the Principality of Orange. In the centre of the flag is the (small) coat of arms of the Kingdom, which originates from the arms of the House of Nassau, surmounted by a royal crown and surrounded by the insignia of the Grand Cross of the Military William Order.
Symbolism
The seven arrows stand for the seven provinces of the Union of Utrecht.
Previous versions
 
Quarterly, 1 and 3, Azure, billetty Or a lion with a coronet or armed and langued Gules holding in his dexter paw a sword Argent hilted Or and in the sinister paw seven arrows Argent pointed and bound together Or (royal arms of the Netherlands, i.e. that of his mother, Queen Beatrix), 2 and 4, Or, and a bugle-horn Azure, langued Gules (arms of the former Principality of Orange), on an inescutcheon Vert, a castle proper, on a mount of the last (arms of the House of Amsberg, i.e. that of his late father, Prince Claus).

Ancestry edit

Through his father, a member of the House of Amsberg, he is descended from families of the lower German nobility, and through his mother, from several royal German–Dutch families such as the House of Lippe, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the House of Orange-Nassau, Waldeck and Pyrmont, and the House of Hohenzollern. He is descended from the first king of the Netherlands, William I of the Netherlands, who was also a ruler in Luxembourg and several German states, and all subsequent Dutch monarchs.

Through his mother, Willem-Alexander also descends from Paul I of Russia and thus from German princess Catherine the Great and Swedish King Gustav I. Through his father, he is also descended from several Dutch–Flemish families who left the Low Countries during Spanish rule, such as the Berenbergs. His paternal great-great-grandfather Gabriel von Amsberg, a major-general of Mecklenburg, was recognized as noble as late as 1891, the family having adopted the "von" in 1795.[65][66]

Willem-Alexander is a descendant of King George II and, more relevant for his succession rights, of his granddaughter Princess Augusta of Great Britain. Under the British Act of Settlement, King Willem-Alexander temporarily forfeited his (distant) succession rights to the throne of the United Kingdom by marrying a Roman Catholic. This right has since been restored in 2015 under the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.[67]

Ancestors of Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
8. Wilhelm von Amsberg
4. Claus Felix von Amsberg
9. Elise von Vieregge
2. Jonkheer Claus von Amsberg
10. Baron Georg von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen
5. Baroness Gösta von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen
11. Baroness Gabriele von dem Bussche-Ippenburg
1. Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
12. Prince Bernhard of Lippe
6. Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld
13. Baroness Armgard von Cramm
3. Beatrix of the Netherlands
14. Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
7. Juliana of the Netherlands
15. Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

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  66. ^ Tebbe, F. J. J.; Aerts, W. D. E.; Cruyningen, Arnout van; Klare, Jean, eds. (2005). Encyclopedie van het Koninklijk Huis [Encyclopædia of the Royal House] (in Dutch). Utrecht: Winkler Prins. p. 17. ISBN 978-90-274-9745-1. OCLC 66011838. OL 33221156M – via Internet Archive.
  67. ^ "Willem-Alexander maakt nu kans op de Britse troon" [Willem-Alexander now has a chance at the British throne]. Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). 2015-03-27. from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-06-15.

External links edit

  • Official website (English)
  • Official website (Dutch)
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
Born: 27 April 1967
Regnal titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Alexander
Prince of Orange
1980–2013
Succeeded by
Dutch royalty
Preceded by King of the Netherlands
2013–present
Incumbent
Heir apparent:
Catharina-Amalia

willem, alexander, netherlands, willem, alexander, dutch, ˈʋɪləm, aːlɛkˈsɑndər, willem, alexander, claus, george, ferdinand, born, april, 1967, king, netherlands, having, acceded, throne, following, mother, abdication, 2013, willem, alexanderwillem, alexander,. Willem Alexander Dutch ˈʋɪlem aːlɛkˈsɑnder Willem Alexander Claus George Ferdinand born 27 April 1967 is King of the Netherlands having acceded to the throne following his mother s abdication in 2013 Willem AlexanderWillem Alexander in 2013King of the NetherlandsReign30 April 2013 2013 04 30 presentInauguration30 April 2013PredecessorBeatrixHeir apparentCatharina AmaliaPrime MinisterMark RutteBorn 1967 04 27 27 April 1967 age 56 Utrecht NetherlandsSpouseMaxima Zorreguieta Cerruti m 2002 wbr IssueCatharina Amalia Princess of OrangePrincess AlexiaPrincess ArianeNamesWillem Alexander Claus George FerdinandHouseOrange Nassau official Amsberg agnatic FatherClaus von AmsbergMotherBeatrix of the NetherlandsReligionProtestantism Protestant Church in the Netherlands SignatureMilitary careerService wbr branchRoyal Netherlands Navy Royal Netherlands Army Royal Netherlands Air Force Royal MarechausseeYears of service1985 2013RankCommodore Navy Brigadier general Army and Marechaussee Air commodore Air Force Willem Alexander was born in Utrecht as the eldest child of Princess Beatrix and German diplomat Claus van Amsberg He became Prince of Orange as heir apparent upon his mother s accession as Queen on 30 April 1980 and succeeded her following her abdication on 30 April 2013 He went to public primary and secondary schools in the Netherlands an international sixth form college in Wales served in the Royal Netherlands Navy and studied history at Leiden University He married Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti in 2002 and they have three daughters Catharina Amalia Princess of Orange born 2003 Princess Alexia born 2005 and Princess Ariane born 2007 Willem Alexander is interested in sports and international water management issues Until his accession to the throne he was a member of the International Olympic Committee 1998 2013 1 chairman of the Advisory Committee on Water to the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment 2004 2013 2 and chairman of the Secretary General of the United Nations Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation 2006 2013 3 4 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Military training and career 3 Activities and social interests 4 Reign 5 Other activities 6 Marriage and children 7 Privacy and the press 8 Properties 8 1 Villa in Machangulo 9 Titles styles honours and arms 9 1 Titles and styles 9 2 Military ranks 9 3 Qualifications 9 4 Honours 9 4 1 National 9 4 2 Foreign 9 5 Awards 9 6 Honorary appointment 9 7 Arms 10 Ancestry 11 References 12 External linksEarly life and education edit nbsp Prince Willem Alexander left at age 14 and his brother Friso in 1982Willem Alexander Claus George Ferdinand was born on 27 April 1967 at the Utrecht University Hospital now known as the University Medical Center Utrecht in Utrecht Netherlands He is the first child of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus 5 and the first grandchild of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard He was the first male Dutch royal baby since the birth of Prince Alexander in 1851 and the first immediate male heir since Alexander s death in 1884 From birth Willem Alexander has held the titles Prince of the Netherlands Dutch Prins der Nederlanden Prince of Orange Nassau Dutch Prins van Oranje Nassau and Jonkheer of Amsberg Dutch Jonkheer van Amsberg 5 He was baptised as a member of the Dutch Reformed Church 6 on 2 September 1967 7 in Saint Jacob s Church in The Hague 8 His godparents are his maternal grandfather Prince Bernhard of Lippe Biesterfeld his paternal grandmother Gosta Freiin von dem Bussche Haddenhausen Prince Ferdinand von Bismarck former Prime Minister Jelle Zijlstra Jonkvrouw Renee Roell and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark 7 He had two younger brothers Prince Friso 1968 2013 and Prince Constantijn born in 1969 He lived with his family at the castle Drakensteyn in the hamlet Lage Vuursche near Baarn from his birth until 1981 when they moved to the larger palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague His mother Beatrix became Queen of the Netherlands in 1980 after his grandmother Juliana abdicated He then received the title of Prince of Orange as heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the age of 13 5 Willem Alexander attended local state primary school Nieuwe Baarnse Elementary School in Baarn from 1973 to 1979 He went to two different state secondary schools the Baarns Lyceum in Baarn from 1979 to 1981 and the Eerste Vrijzinnig Christelijk Lyceum in The Hague from 1981 to 1983 and the private sixth form college United World College of the Atlantic in Wales 1983 to 1985 from which he received his International Baccalaureate 5 9 After his military service from 1985 to 1987 Willem Alexander studied History at Leiden University from 1987 onwards and received his MA degree doctorandus in 1993 10 11 His final thesis was on the Dutch response to France s decision under President Charles de Gaulle to leave NATO s integrated command structure 5 Willem Alexander speaks English Spanish French and German his father s native language despite never getting German language lessons from him fluently in addition to his native Dutch 12 Military training and career edit nbsp Willem Alexander in the navy uniform of ensign in 1986Between secondary school and his university education Willem Alexander performed military service in the Royal Netherlands Navy from August 1985 until January 1987 He received his training at the Royal Netherlands Naval College and the frigates HNLMS Tromp and HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen where he was an ensign In 1988 he received additional training at the ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen and became a lieutenant junior grade wachtofficier 13 As a reservist for the Royal Netherlands Navy Willem Alexander was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1995 commander in 1997 Captain at Sea in 2001 and commodore in 2005 As a reservist for the Royal Netherlands Army he was made a major Grenadiers and Rifles Guard Regiment in 1995 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1997 colonel in 2001 and brigadier general in 2005 As a reservist for the Royal Netherlands Air Force he was made squadron leader in 1995 and promoted to air commodore in 2005 As a reservist for the Royal Marechaussee he was made brigadier general in 2005 9 Before his investiture as king in 2013 Willem Alexander was honourably discharged from the armed forces The government declared that the head of state cannot be a serving member of the armed forces since the government itself holds supreme command over the armed forces As king Willem Alexander may choose to wear a military uniform with royal insignia but not with his former rank insignia 14 Activities and social interests edit nbsp Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima meet Michelle Obama Barack Obama and Fay Hartog Levin at the White House in 2009 Since 1985 when he became 18 years old Willem Alexander has been a member of the Council of State of the Netherlands This is the highest council of the Dutch political system and is chaired by the head of state then Queen Beatrix 15 Willem Alexander is interested in water management and sports issues He was an honorary member of the World Commission on Water for the 21st century and patron of the Global Water Partnership a body established by the World Bank the UN and the Swedish Ministry of Development He was appointed as the Chairperson of the United Nations Secretary General s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation on 12 December 2006 16 On 10 October 2010 Willem Alexander and Maxima went to the Netherlands Antilles capital Willemstad to attend and represent his mother the Queen at the Antillean Dissolution ceremony He was a patron of the Dutch Olympic Games Committee until 1998 when he was made a member of the International Olympic Committee IOC After becoming King he relinquished his membership and received the Gold Olympic Order at the 125th IOC Session 17 To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1928 Summer Olympics held in Amsterdam he had expressed support to bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics 18 He was a member of the supervisory board of De Nederlandsche Bank the Dutch central bank a member of the Advisory Council of ECP the information society forum for government business and civil society patron of Veterans Day and held several other patronages and posts 19 Reign editMain article Inauguration of Willem Alexander On 28 January 2013 Beatrix announced her intention of abdicating On the morning of 30 April 2013 Beatrix signed the instrument of abdication at the Moseszaal Moses Hall at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam Later that afternoon Willem Alexander was inaugurated as king in front of the joint assembly of the States General in a ceremony held at the Nieuwe Kerk As king Willem Alexander has weekly meetings with the prime minister and speaks regularly with ministers and state secretaries He also signs all new Acts of Parliament and royal decrees He represents the kingdom at home and abroad At the State Opening of Parliament he delivers the Speech from the Throne which announces the plans of the government for the parliamentary year The Constitution requires that the king appoint dismiss and swear in all government ministers and state secretaries As king he is also the President of the Council of State an advisory body that reviews proposed legislation In modern practice the monarch seldom chairs council meetings 20 At his accession at age 46 he was Europe s youngest monarch On the inauguration of Spain s Felipe VI on 19 June 2014 he became and remains Europe s second youngest monarch He is also the first male monarch of the Netherlands since the death of his great great grandfather William III in 1890 Willem Alexander was one of four new monarchs to take the throne in 2013 along with Pope Francis the Emir Tamim bin Hamad of Qatar and King Philippe of Belgium Other activities edit nbsp Willem Alexander with his family at the 2012 Summer Olympics here supporting Ellen van DijkWillem Alexander is an avid pilot and has said that if he had not been a royal he would have liked to be an airline pilot so he could fly internationally on large sized aircraft such as the Boeing 747 21 During the reign of his mother he regularly flew the Dutch royal aircraft on trips 22 However in May 2017 Willem Alexander revealed that he had served as a first officer on KLM flights for 21 years flying KLM Cityhopper s Fokker 70s twice a month even after his accession to the throne Following KLM s phased retirement of the Fokker 70 he began training to fly Boeing 737s Willem Alexander was rarely recognized while in the KLM uniform and wearing the KLM cap though a few passengers recognized his voice even though he never gave his name and only welcomed passengers on behalf of the captain and crew 21 23 Using the name W A van Buren one of the least known titles of the House of Orange Nassau he participated in the 1986 Frisian Elfstedentocht a 200 kilometre long 120 mi distance ice skating tour 24 He ran the New York City Marathon under the same pseudonym in 1992 25 Willem Alexander completed both events Marriage and children editMain article Wedding of Willem Alexander Prince of Orange and Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti nbsp Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima kiss at the balcony of the Royal Palace of Amsterdam on their wedding day in 2002 On 2 February 2002 he married Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam The marriage triggered significant controversy due to the role the bride s father Jorge Zorreguieta had in the Argentinian military dictatorship The couple have three daughters The Princess of Orange Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane nbsp King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima with their daughters Princess Catharina Amalia left Princess Alexia right and Princess Ariane center Name Date of birth Place of birth AgeCatharina Amalia Princess of Orange 2003 12 07 7 December 2003 The Hague Netherlands 20Princess Alexia of the Netherlands 2005 06 26 26 June 2005 The Hague Netherlands 18Princess Ariane of the Netherlands 2007 04 10 10 April 2007 The Hague Netherlands 16Privacy and the press editIn an attempt to strike a balance between privacy for the royal family and availability to the press the Netherlands Government Information Service RVD instituted a media code on 21 June 2005 which essentially states that 26 Photographs of the members of the royal house while performing their duties are always permitted For other occasions like holidays or vacations the RVD will arrange a photo op on condition that the press leave the family alone for the rest of the activity During a ski vacation in Argentina several photographs were taken of the prince and his family during the private part of their holiday including one by Associated Press staff photographer Natacha Pisarenko in spite of the media code and after a photo opportunity had been provided earlier 27 The Associated Press decided to publish some of the photos which were subsequently republished by several Dutch media Willem Alexander and the RVD jointly filed suit against the Associated Press on 5 August 2009 and the trial started on 14 August 2009 at the district court in Amsterdam On 28 August 2009 the district court ruled in favour of the prince and RVD citing that the couple has a right to privacy that the pictures in question add nothing to any public debate and that they are not of any particular value to society since they are not photographs of his family at work Associated Press was sentenced to stop further publication of the photographs on pain of a 1 000 fine per violation with a 50 000 maximum 28 Properties editFrom 2003 until 2019 Willem Alexander and his family lived in Villa Eikenhorst on the De Horsten Estate in Wassenaar 29 After his mother abdicated and became Princess Beatrix once again she moved to the castle of Drakensteyn after which the King and his family moved to the newly renovated monarch s palace of Huis ten Bosch in The Hague in 2019 30 Willem Alexander has a villa near Kranidi Greece 31 Villa in Machangulo edit On 10 July 2008 the Prince of Orange and Princess Maxima announced that they had invested in a development project on the Mozambican peninsula of Machangulo 32 The development project was aimed at building an ecologically responsible vacation resort including a hotel and several luxury holiday homes for investors The project was to invest heavily in the local economy of the peninsula building schools and a local clinic with an eye both towards responsible sustainability and maintaining a local staff 33 After contacting Mozambican President Armando Guebuza to verify that the Mozambican government had no objections the couple decided to invest in two villas 34 In 2009 controversy erupted in parliament and the press about the project and the prince s involvement 34 Politician Alexander Pechtold questioned the morality of building such a resort in a poor country like Mozambique After public and parliamentary controversy the royal couple announced that they had decided to sell the property in Machangulo once their house was completed 35 In January 2012 it was confirmed that the villa had been sold 36 Titles styles honours and arms editTitles and styles edit See also Style of the Dutch sovereign 27 April 1967 30 April 1980 His Royal Highness Prince Willem Alexander of the Netherlands Prince of Orange Nassau Jonkheer van Amsberg 30 April 1980 30 April 2013 His Royal Highness The Prince of Orange 30 April 2013 present His Majesty The King 37 Willem Alexander s full title is His Majesty King Willem Alexander King of the Netherlands Prince of Orange Nassau etc etc etc 37 Willem Alexander is the first Dutch king since Willem III d 1890 Willem Alexander had earlier indicated that when he became king he would take the name Willem IV 38 but it was announced in January 2013 that his regnal name would be Willem Alexander 39 Military ranks edit nbsp Willem Alexander in the navy uniform of Commodore at the wedding of the Crown Princess of Sweden and Daniel Westling in June 2010 nbsp King Willem Alexander in uniform with the Royal insigniaRoyal Netherlands Navy conscripted nbsp Lieutenant at sea third class Ensign August 1985 January 1987 nbsp Lieutenant at sea second class Sub lieutenant watch officer 1988 Royal Netherlands Navy reserve nbsp Lieutenant at sea second class senior grade Lieutenant 1988 1995 nbsp Lieutenant at sea first class Lieutenant Commander 1995 1997 nbsp Captain lieutenant at sea Commander 1997 2001 nbsp Captain at Sea 2001 2005 nbsp Commodore 2005 2013 Royal Netherlands Air Force reserve nbsp Squadron Leader 1995 2005 nbsp Air Commodore 2005 2013 Royal Netherlands Army reserve nbsp Major Grenadiers and Rifles Guard Regiment 1995 1997 nbsp Lieutenant Colonel 1997 2001 nbsp Colonel 2001 2005 nbsp Brigadier General 2005 2013 Royal Marechaussee reserve nbsp Brigadier General 2005 2013 King s Insignia all services nbsp Royal insignia as King 2013 present Qualifications edit nbsp Military PilotHonours edit See also List of honours of the Dutch royal family by country National edit nbsp Grand Master of the Military William Order nbsp Grand Master and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion nbsp Grand Master of the Order of Orange Nassau nbsp Co Grand Master and Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau nbsp Grand Master and Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange nbsp Grand Master of the Order of the Crown nbsp Grand Master of the Order for Loyalty and Merit nbsp Honorary Commander of the Order of Saint John in the Netherlands 40 nbsp Grand Master of the Order of the Golden Ark nbsp Recipient of the Eleven Cities Cross nbsp Recipient of the Officer Long Service Cross nl nbsp Recipient of the Queen Beatrix Inauguration Medal nbsp Recipient of the Wedding Medal of Prince Willem Alexander to Maxima ZorruigetaForeign edit nbsp Argentina Collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin 41 nbsp Austria Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria nbsp Belgium Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold 2016 Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown 1993 nbsp Brazil Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross nbsp Brunei Member of the Family Order of Laila Utama nbsp Cape Verde Member 1st Class of the Amilcar Cabral Order 7 December 2018 42 nbsp Chile Grand Cross of the Order of the Merit nbsp Denmark Knight of the Order of the Elephant 31 January 1998 43 nbsp Estonia Collar of the Cross of Terra Mariana 5 June 2018 44 45 46 nbsp France Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour 20 January 2014 47 Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit nbsp Germany Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 48 49 50 Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 5 July 2021 nbsp Greece Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer 31 October 2022 nbsp Indonesia Star of Mahaputera 1st Class nbsp Italy Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic 19 June 2017 51 nbsp Japan Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum 24 October 2014 52 nbsp Jordan Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of al Hussein bin Ali 20 March 2018 nbsp Latvia Commander Grand Cross with Chain 1st Class of the Order of the Three Stars 6 June 2018 53 nbsp Lithuania Grand Cross with Golden Chain of the Order of Vytautas the Great 13 June 2018 54 nbsp Luxembourg Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown nbsp Mexico Sash of the Order of the Aztec Eagle 2009 nbsp Norway Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of St Olav 1996 2021 nbsp Oman The Supreme Order of the Renaissance of Oman 10 January 2012 55 56 nbsp Poland Knight of the Order of the White Eagle 2014 nbsp Portugal Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry 10 October 2017 57 nbsp Slovakia Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross 7 March 2023 58 nbsp South Korea Recipient of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa 12 December 2023 59 60 nbsp Spain Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic 61 nbsp Sweden Knight with Collar of the Royal Order of the Seraphim 1993 2022 nbsp Thailand Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of Chula Chom Klao 62 nbsp United Arab Emirates Grand Cross of the Order of Union nbsp United Kingdom Stranger Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter 23 October 2018 63 nbsp Venezuela Grand Cross of the Order of the LiberatorAwards edit International Olympic Committee Recipient of the Gold Olympic Order 17 8 September 2013 Honorary appointment edit Aide de camp to Her Majesty The Queen until 2013 Arms edit Main article Coat of arms of the Netherlands Coat of arms of Willem Alexander of the Netherlands nbsp Notes As Monarch Willem Alexander uses the Greater Coat of Arms of the Realm Grote Rijkswapen The components of the coats of arms were updated and further regulated by Queen Wilhelmina in a royal decree of 10 July 1907 and were affirmed by Queen Juliana in a royal decree of 23 April 1980 Crest Issuing from a coronet Or a pair of wings joined Sable each with an arched bend Argent charged with three leaves of the lime tree stems upward Vert Torse Azure and Or Helm Barred helmet Escutcheon Azure billetty Or a lion with a coronet Or armed and langued Gules holding in his dexter paw a sword Argent hilted Or and in the sinister paw seven arrows Argent pointed and bound together Or Supporters Two lions rampant Or armed and langued Gules Motto JE MAINTIENDRAIFrench I will maintain in Dutch Ik zal handhaven Other elements The monarch places this coat of arms on a purple mantle with golden borders and tassels lined with Ermine Above the mantle is a purple pavilion again topped with the royal crown 64 Note Although the official blazon states the mantle as purple it often looks like dark red French and German purple contains more red and less blue than American or British purple Banner nbsp Upon his succession to the throne Willem Alexander adopted the partly modified Royal Standard of the Netherlands which is a square orange flag divided in four quarters by a nassau blue cross All quarters show a white and blue bugle horn taken from the coat of arms of the Principality of Orange In the centre of the flag is the small coat of arms of the Kingdom which originates from the arms of the House of Nassau surmounted by a royal crown and surrounded by the insignia of the Grand Cross of the Military William Order Symbolism The seven arrows stand for the seven provinces of the Union of Utrecht Previous versions nbsp Quarterly 1 and 3 Azure billetty Or a lion with a coronet or armed and langued Gules holding in his dexter paw a sword Argent hilted Or and in the sinister paw seven arrows Argent pointed and bound together Or royal arms of the Netherlands i e that of his mother Queen Beatrix 2 and 4 Or and a bugle horn Azure langued Gules arms of the former Principality of Orange on an inescutcheon Vert a castle proper on a mount of the last arms of the House of Amsberg i e that of his late father Prince Claus Ancestry editThrough his father a member of the House of Amsberg he is descended from families of the lower German nobility and through his mother from several royal German Dutch families such as the House of Lippe Mecklenburg Schwerin the House of Orange Nassau Waldeck and Pyrmont and the House of Hohenzollern He is descended from the first king of the Netherlands William I of the Netherlands who was also a ruler in Luxembourg and several German states and all subsequent Dutch monarchs Through his mother Willem Alexander also descends from Paul I of Russia and thus from German princess Catherine the Great and Swedish King Gustav I Through his father he is also descended from several Dutch Flemish families who left the Low Countries during Spanish rule such as the Berenbergs His paternal great great grandfather Gabriel von Amsberg a major general of Mecklenburg was recognized as noble as late as 1891 the family having adopted the von in 1795 65 66 Willem Alexander is a descendant of King George II and more relevant for his succession rights of his granddaughter Princess Augusta of Great Britain Under the British Act of Settlement King Willem Alexander temporarily forfeited his distant succession rights to the throne of the United Kingdom by marrying a Roman Catholic This right has since been restored in 2015 under the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 67 Ancestors of Willem Alexander of the Netherlands8 Wilhelm von Amsberg4 Claus Felix von Amsberg9 Elise von Vieregge2 Jonkheer Claus von Amsberg10 Baron Georg von dem Bussche Haddenhausen5 Baroness Gosta von dem Bussche Haddenhausen11 Baroness Gabriele von dem Bussche Ippenburg1 Willem Alexander of the Netherlands12 Prince Bernhard of Lippe6 Prince Bernhard of Lippe Biesterfeld13 Baroness Armgard von Cramm3 Beatrix of the Netherlands14 Duke Henry of Mecklenburg Schwerin7 Juliana of the Netherlands15 Wilhelmina of the NetherlandsReferences edit Dutch Crown Prince quits IOC in preparation to become king Sports Illustrated 2013 01 29 Archived from the original on 2013 12 13 Retrieved 2013 04 19 Prins Willem Alexander neemt afscheid van Adviescommissie Water Prince Willem Alexander says goodbye to the Water Advisory Committee de Volkskrant in Dutch 2013 04 16 Archived from the original on 2013 05 06 Retrieved 2013 04 19 Who We Are United Nations Secretary Generals Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation Archived from the original on 2013 05 19 Retrieved 2013 04 19 Willem Alexander neemt afscheid als waterprins Willem Alexander says goodbye as water prince Trouw in Dutch 2013 03 21 Archived from the original on 2013 05 17 Retrieved 2013 04 19 a b c d e The Prince of Orange PDF Dutch Royal House May 2009 Archived from the original PDF on 2009 05 09 Retrieved 2009 07 19 Doop Willem Alexander Baptism of Willem Alexander Nederlandse Omroep Stichting in Dutch Archived from the original on 2009 03 31 Retrieved 2009 12 13 a b 40 meest gestelde vragen 40 most frequently asked questions Dutch Royal House in Dutch Archived from the original on 2011 06 04 Retrieved 2009 12 13 Doopplechtigheid Prins Willem Alexander in Sint Jacobskerk Baptism ceremony of Prince Willem Alexander in St Jacob Church 3 parts Radio Netherlands Worldwide in Dutch 2009 04 27 Archived from the original on 2011 07 27 Retrieved 2009 12 13 a b Z M koning Willem Alexander koning der Nederlanden prins van Oranje Nassau H M King Willem Alexander King of the Netherlands Prince of Orange Nassau Parlement in Dutch Archived from the original on 2021 05 06 Retrieved 2013 04 05 Hoff Ruud Leiden 2 juli 1993 Leiden 2 July 1993 ANP Historisch Archief Community Archived from the original on 2013 12 12 Retrieved 2017 06 15 Dutch royals in Leiden Leiden University 2019 04 26 Archived from the original on 2021 05 17 Retrieved 2022 04 26 Prins Willem Alexander blundert tijdens staatsbezoek Mexico Prince Willem Alexander blunders during state visit to Mexico 925 2009 11 05 Archived from the original on 2013 12 10 Retrieved 2013 05 03 Military career Dutch Royal House Archived from the original on 2009 11 24 Retrieved 2009 12 17 King will retain close relationship with armed forces Ministry of Defence Press release 2013 04 11 Archived from the original on 2015 02 17 Retrieved 2013 03 03 The Dutch Council of State Raad van State Archived from the original on 2022 03 14 Retrieved 2022 04 26 About UNSGAB United Nations Secretary Generals Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation Archived from the original on 2012 07 30 Retrieved 2013 01 28 a b Dutch King given Olympic gold order ESPN 2013 09 08 Archived from the original on 2020 11 27 Retrieved 2022 04 27 Netherlands May Bid For 2028 Games Gamesbids com 2008 08 14 Archived from the original on 2020 08 04 Preparing for the role of monarch Dutch Royal House 2015 01 15 Archived from the original on 2021 12 31 Retrieved 2022 04 26 Position and role as head of state Dutch Royal House 2015 01 15 Archived from the original on 2022 02 03 Retrieved 2022 04 26 a b Dutch King Willem Alexander reveals secret flights as first officer BBC News 2017 05 17 Archived from the original on 2017 05 17 Retrieved 2017 05 17 FAQ Dutch royalty Radio Netherlands Worldwide 2011 Archived from the original on 2013 01 27 Retrieved 2013 01 28 Sephton Connor 2017 05 17 Dutch king reveals double life as an airline pilot for KLM Sky News Archived from the original on 2017 05 18 Retrieved 2017 05 17 Teunissen Bas 2012 10 04 FAQ eleven facts about the Eleven Cities Race Radio Netherlands Worldwide Archived from the original on 2013 03 17 Retrieved 2013 01 28 Brooks James 2013 04 19 Dutch abdication Ten things you never knew about the royal family of the Netherlands The Daily Telegraph London Archived from the original on 2013 05 02 Retrieved 2013 05 04 Media Code Dutch Royal House 2005 06 21 Archived from the original on 2020 11 27 Retrieved 2022 04 26 Royals sue Associated Press over holiday photos NRC 2005 08 05 Archived from the original on 2009 09 09 Retrieved 2010 06 11 Willem Alexander wint rechtszaak tegen AP Willem Alexander wins lawsuit against AP in Dutch 2009 08 28 Archived from the original on 2012 03 08 Villa Eikenhorst De Horsten Royal Estates Royal House of the Netherlands Retrieved 2022 06 09 Drakensteyn Castle Dutch Royal House Archived from the original on 2021 04 17 Retrieved 2022 04 27 Dutch prince buys villa next to James Bond actor BBC News 2012 04 16 Archived from the original on 2012 04 17 Retrieved 2013 07 24 Willem Alexander wil huis voor kust Mozambique Willem Alexander wants a house off the coast of Mozambique Trouw in Dutch 2008 07 10 Archived from the original on 2015 01 23 Retrieved 2015 01 23 Waterfield Bruno 2009 10 10 Written at Brussels Dutch Crown Prince Willem Alexander accused over Mozambique villa The Daily Telegraph London Archived from the original on 2010 06 01 Retrieved 2010 06 13 a b Prins had contact met president Mozambique Algemeen Dagblad in Dutch 2009 11 19 Archived from the original on 2015 01 23 Retrieved 2022 04 27 Crown prince bows to public pressure over Mozambique villa NRC 2009 11 23 Archived from the original on 2010 03 02 Retrieved 2010 06 11 Prins verkoopt villa in Mozambique Nederlandse Omroep Stichting in Dutch 2012 01 18 Archived from the original on 2015 01 23 Retrieved 2015 01 23 a b Aanspreektitels Titels aanspreektitels en beschermheerschappen Het Koninklijk Huis 2015 01 14 Interview met Willem Alexander in Dutch Archived from the original on 2007 03 07 Retrieved 2006 05 06 Prince of Orange to become King Willem Alexander Archived from the original on 2015 10 07 Retrieved 2017 06 15 Koning Willem Alexander erecommandeur van Johanniter Orde Reformatorisch Dagblad in Dutch 2014 12 01 Archived from the original on 2016 05 31 Retrieved 2016 05 27 Maxima de Holanda anfitriona de Juliana Awada en su visita de Estado a Holanda Maxima of the Netherlands hostess of Juliana Awada on her state visit to the Netherlands El Confidencial in Spanish 2017 03 27 Archived from the original on 2017 05 18 Retrieved 2017 06 15 Boletim Oficial Official Bulletin Imprensa Nacional de Cabo Verde in Portuguese Vol 1 no 80 2018 12 07 Archived from the original on 2022 03 27 Retrieved 2019 11 11 Ordensdetaljer Order details borger dk in Danish Archived from the original on 2013 12 07 Retrieved 2019 11 11 Kuningas Willem Alexander King Willem Alexander Office of the President of the Republic in Estonian Archived from the original on 2022 04 27 Retrieved 2022 04 27 King of Netherlands to visit Estonia next week website of the Estionian public radio and television organisation Eesti Rahvusringhaaling 265 Riiklike autasude andmine website of the President of Estonia Koning krijgt grootkruis van Legioen van Eer King receives Grand Cross of Legion of Honour De Telegraaf in Dutch 2014 01 20 Archived from the original on 2014 01 23 Prince Willem Alexander attends a state banquet offered by president JPG Alamy Archived from the original on 2017 04 03 Retrieved 2017 06 15 Queen Beatrix Netherlands Through the Years Socialite Life Archived from the original JPG on 2016 12 27 Retrieved 2017 06 15 Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Crown Prince Willem Alexander JPG Alamy Archived from the original on 2017 04 03 Retrieved 2017 06 15 van Oranje Nassau S M Willem Alexander Claus George Decorato di Gran Cordone van Orange Nassau H M Willem Alexander Claus George Decorated with Grand Cordon Presidenza della Repubblica in Italian Archived from the original on 2017 09 07 Gaikoku hito jokun jushō sha meibo Heisei 26 nen 外国人叙勲受章者名簿 平成26年 List of recipients of foreign awards 2014 Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japanese Archived from the original on 2016 03 03 Retrieved 2017 06 15 Par Triju Zvaigznu ordena pieskirsanu On the awarding of the Order of the Three Stars Latvijas Vestnesis in Latvian Archived from the original on 2021 04 13 Retrieved 2018 06 11 Royal visit crowns Lithuanian Dutch friendship President of the Republic of Lithuania Press release Vilnius 2018 06 13 Archived from the original on 2022 03 27 Retrieved 2022 04 27 Oman Observer PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2013 04 01 DNF Fotoarchief Denieuwsfoto www ppe agency com Entidades Estrangeiras Agraciadas com Ordens Portuguesas Foreign Entities Awarded with Portuguese Orders Ordens Honorificas Portuguesas in Portuguese Archived from the original on 2022 04 09 Retrieved 2022 04 27 Holandsky kraľovsky par pricestoval na navstevu Slovenska Prezidentka Slovenskej republiky 2023 03 07 President van de Republiek Korea december 2023 Foto en video Het Koninklijk Huis 2023 12 12 https twitter com koninklijkhuis status 1734673826934378597 photo 2 Real Decreto 1141 Royal Decree 1141 PDF Boletin Oficial del Estado in Spanish Archived PDF from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2017 06 15 Prakaṣ s ảnạk naykrạṭ hmntri prakassanknaykrthmntri Announcement of the Prime Minister s Office PDF rachkiccanuebksa Press release in Thai Archived from the original PDF on 2014 12 31 Retrieved 2022 04 27 Bloks Moniek 2018 10 23 King of The Netherlands appointed a supernumerary Knight of the Garter Royal Central Archived from the original on 2021 12 23 Retrieved 2022 04 27 Coats of arms 2015 04 14 Archived from the original on 2021 11 29 Retrieved 2022 04 27 Ancestors of Willem Alexander King of the Netherlands Hein s Royal Genealogy Page Archived from the original on 2021 12 27 Retrieved 2022 04 27 Tebbe F J J Aerts W D E Cruyningen Arnout van Klare Jean eds 2005 Encyclopedie van het Koninklijk Huis Encyclopaedia of the Royal House in Dutch Utrecht Winkler Prins p 17 ISBN 978 90 274 9745 1 OCLC 66011838 OL 33221156M via Internet Archive Willem Alexander maakt nu kans op de Britse troon Willem Alexander now has a chance at the British throne Nederlandse Omroep Stichting in Dutch 2015 03 27 Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2017 06 15 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Willem Alexander nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Willem Alexander Official website English Official website Dutch Appearances on C SPANWillem Alexander of the NetherlandsHouse of Orange NassauBorn 27 April 1967Regnal titlesVacantTitle last held byAlexander Prince of Orange1980 2013 Succeeded byCatharina AmaliaDutch royaltyPreceded byBeatrix King of the Netherlands2013 present IncumbentHeir apparent Catharina Amalia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Willem Alexander of the Netherlands amp oldid 1195763565, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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