Eight hundred thousand visitors have flocked to Amsterdam to join the festivities underway to inaugurate the first Dutch king since 1890. Queen Beatrix abdicated after 33 years on the throne.
Image: Reuters
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With his 75-year-old mother signing an act of abdication at Amsterdam's Royal Palace on Tuesday morning, Willem-Alexander has become the king of the Netherlands. His Argentine-born wife, Maxima, is now queen, and their eldest daughter, 9-year-old Catharina-Amalia, has become Princess of Orange and heir to the throne.
"It is my deep wish that the new royal couple will feel themselves supported by your loving trust," Queen Beatrix said on Monday. "I am convinced that Willem-Alexander will apply himself with true devotion to everything a good king is obliged to do," she added.
Niederlande Balkon
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The day is expected to be a huge party, culminating in a boat trip by the royal couple around the Ij waterway. Security was also tight, with 10,000 uniformed police, 3,000 plainclothes officers and an untold number of civil servants assisting in the logistics. On Monday, officials closed the airspace above Amsterdam for three days, and Dutch police, German agents and sniffer dogs swept Dam square for bombs.
Meeting of monarchies
Royalty from 18 countries made the trip, including Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, and the Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako. Charles also attended Beatrix's coronation in 1980.
The Netherlands celebrates its first king since 1890
800,000 people flocked to Amsterdam to celebrate the swearing in of Willem-Alexander. Royals from 18 countries joined in the festivities following the abdication of Queen Beatrix after 33 years on the throne.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Partying around the clock
The crowds, many of them wearing orange hats and other clothes, gathered in Dam Square outside the palace from early on Tuesday to see King Willem-Alexander take the Dutch throne.
Image: Reuters
Finally made it
The king and queen looked relieved as they left the New Church where King Willem-Alexander received the homage of his people. They had said they were a bit nervous before the ceremony.
Image: Reuters
Promise to serve
The new king took his oath of office during a religious ceremony in the New Church in Amsterdam.
Image: Reuters
Pomp and circumstance
King Willem-Alexander may have said he doesn't want much pomp, but he made an exception for the procession to the church where he was to take his oath.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
King, Queen ... and Princess
Beatrix - now Princess Beatrix - King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima waved to the crowd from the balcony of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam following the inauguration on Tuesday.
Image: Reuters
Long live the king
The new king, unlike his mother, pays less attention to protocol. He wants to be addressed as "Willem-Alexander" and not as Willem VI, which would be historically accurate. And he only wants to be called "Your Majesty" at official occasions.
Image: Reuters
Abdication
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, second from left, signs the Act of Abdication next to Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on April 30.
Image: JERRY LAMPEN/AFP/Getty Images
Perfect hairdo
For more than 30 years, Beatrix, the former queen, preferred a teased hairdo, which the Dutch jokingly say is made of cement. A humorous documentary on hairstyles was aired on Dutch television ahead of the official ceremonies.
Image: Reuters
Decked out in orange
An estimated 25,000 well-wishers wearing the national color cheered outside the Royal Palace in Amsterdam as the ceremonies were broadcast live.
Image: Getty Images
Queen's Day
April 30 is Queen's Day in the Netherlands and always an occasion for partying. Many people have taken the day off of work - and have been celebrating on the streets since Monday evening.
Image: Reuters
Farewell dinner
Queen Beatrix, here flanked by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and her son Prince Willem-Alexander, hosted a dinner at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam on Monday evening.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
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Beatrix announced her intention to step aside in January after 33 years on the throne. She succeeded her mother, Juliana, who abdicated in 1980.
In her abdication speech Monday, Beatrix said she had "shared both joy and national pride" with her people as well as their "sorrow and anxiety."
