30 April 2013 Last updated at 08:05 ET
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LIVE: Coverage of the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander
Continue reading the main story [h=2]Dutch abdication[/h]
An enthronement ceremony has begun in the Netherlands for Willem-Alexander who became monarch after the abdication of his mother, Queen Beatrix.
Willem-Alexander became the country's first king since 1890 when his 75-year-old mother signed the abdication deed after 33 years on the throne.
Huge crowds of orange-clad partygoers are in Amsterdam to pay tribute.
Now known as Princess Beatrix, she has maintained a recent Dutch tradition in handing over to a new generation.
'Happy and grateful' The queen had announced her intention to stand down in January, saying her son was ready to reign and that it was time for the throne to be held by "a new generation".
She formally relinquished the throne at a short ceremony in the Royal Palace on Tuesday, signing a statement which read: "I declare that I hereby step down from the monarchy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, that the monarchy from this moment on is transferred to my eldest son and heir Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, in accordance with the statutes and the constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands."
There were huge cheers from the crowds outside in Dam Square, who were watching the ceremony on giant television screens, as she and the prince and his wife Maxima - a 41-year-old Argentine-born investment banker - signed the deed of abdication.
Shortly afterwards, the three royals emerged on a balcony above the square.
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Queen Beatrix signed the deed of abdication at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, becoming Princess Beatrix and making her son the king.
The queen is following a recent tradition in handing over power during her lifetime.
Thousands of people wearing orange, the national colour of the Netherlands, have gathered in Amsterdam for the ceremonies.
The queen has thanked the Dutch public for their "heart-warming displays of affection" throughout her reign.
On Monday she hosted a gala dinner for royals and dignitaries from around the world at the newly reopened Rijksmuseum.
The Dutch monarch has a largely ceremonial role - Willem-Alexander has said he will not expect people to call him "Your Majesty".
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The visibly emotional Princess Beatrix told the crowds: "I am happy and grateful to introduce to you your new king, Willem-Alexander."
King Willem-Alexander thanked mother for "33 moving and interesting years", saying he and the public and people in Dutch overseas territories were "intensely grateful" to her.
Continue reading the main story [h=2]Abdication day in the Netherlands[/h]
The three then held hands on the balcony as the national anthem was played, before the new king and queen's three young daughters were brought out to wave at the crowds.
Their eldest daughter, nine-year-old Catharina-Amalia, has become Princess of Orange and is now first-in-line to the throne.
Willem-Alexander will later be officially sworn in at a secular ceremony in the Nieuwe Kerk, a decommissioned church, before a joint session of the Dutch parliament.
In the evening, the royal family will take part in a water pageant.
Many royals and high-ranking dignitaries have been invited to take part in the events, including the UK's Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain and Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and his wife.
On Monday, Queen Beatrix thanked the nation, saying the people's devotion had given her the strength to carry on during her 33-year reign.
"Without your heart-warming and encouraging displays of affection, the burdens, which certainly have existed, would have weighed heavily," she said.
Paying tribute to her late husband Prince Claus, who died in 2002, she said he had helped modernise the House of Orange.
"Perhaps history will bear out that the choice of my partner was my best decision," said the monarch, who is known affectionately as "Queen Bea".
Continue reading the main story [h=2]European press review[/h] "Fond as the Dutch are of the departing Queen Beatrix... at 75 she has only limited gossip potential. On the other hand, Willem-Alexander's Argentinean investment banker wife, Maxima, who becomes queen today, generates endless "glamour" interest, and their three daughters... still have their teenage years ahead of them, packed with "red-top" potential" - Peter Cluskey, writing in the Irish Times
"Maxima of the Netherlands, the Sun Queen... The most popular member of the Dutch royal family, Maxima... is preparing to enter legend.... She will give her three daughters to the Crown... an ace in her sleeve for the Dutch monarchy is feminine and matriarchal" - Stephane Bern, writing in France's Figaro-Madame
"The Dutch royal house is quite unique and perhaps the most modern and appropriate to the 21st Century. It is a monarchy where traditions carry great weight yet it manages to be a family very close to the people" - Gerardo Correas, writing in Spain's La Razon
She said hereditary authority of itself did not give substance to a contemporary monarchy; rather this was earned through "the will to serve the country".
Willem-Alexander has said he wants to "be a king that can bring society together, representative and encouraging in the 21st Century".
He has said he does not expect to be called "his majesty," saying instead people can "address me as they wish".
Abdication 'tradition' Queen Beatrix is the sixth monarch from the House of Orange-Nassau, which has ruled the Netherlands since the early 19th Century.
Correspondents say she is extremely popular with most Dutch people, but her abdication was widely expected and will not provoke a constitutional crisis. Under Dutch law, the monarch has few powers and the role is considered ceremonial.
He or she is expected to be politically impartial, co-sign acts of parliament, help with the formation of new governments and to undertake state visits.
Modest crown Continue reading the main story King Willem-Alexander has become not only the monarch of the Netherlands but also the Dutch Caribbean territories of Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten. He holds several military titles but requested an honourable discharge before his accession.
In recent decades it has become the tradition for the monarch to abdicate.
Queen Beatrix's mother Juliana resigned the throne in 1980 on her 71st birthday, and her grandmother Wilhelmina abdicated in 1948 at the age of 68.
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Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands thanked the nation
Queen Beatrix has remained active in recent years, but her reign has also seen traumatic events.
In 2009 a would-be attacker killed eight people when he drove his car into crowds watching the queen and other members of the royal family in a national holiday parade.
In February last year her second son, Prince Friso, was struck by an avalanche in Austria and remains in a coma.
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LIVE: Coverage of the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander
Continue reading the main story [h=2]Dutch abdication[/h]
An enthronement ceremony has begun in the Netherlands for Willem-Alexander who became monarch after the abdication of his mother, Queen Beatrix.
Willem-Alexander became the country's first king since 1890 when his 75-year-old mother signed the abdication deed after 33 years on the throne.
Huge crowds of orange-clad partygoers are in Amsterdam to pay tribute.
Now known as Princess Beatrix, she has maintained a recent Dutch tradition in handing over to a new generation.
'Happy and grateful' The queen had announced her intention to stand down in January, saying her son was ready to reign and that it was time for the throne to be held by "a new generation".
She formally relinquished the throne at a short ceremony in the Royal Palace on Tuesday, signing a statement which read: "I declare that I hereby step down from the monarchy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, that the monarchy from this moment on is transferred to my eldest son and heir Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, in accordance with the statutes and the constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands."
There were huge cheers from the crowds outside in Dam Square, who were watching the ceremony on giant television screens, as she and the prince and his wife Maxima - a 41-year-old Argentine-born investment banker - signed the deed of abdication.
Shortly afterwards, the three royals emerged on a balcony above the square.
Continue reading the main story
Continue reading the main story
previous slide next slide
The visibly emotional Princess Beatrix told the crowds: "I am happy and grateful to introduce to you your new king, Willem-Alexander."
King Willem-Alexander thanked mother for "33 moving and interesting years", saying he and the public and people in Dutch overseas territories were "intensely grateful" to her.
Continue reading the main story [h=2]Abdication day in the Netherlands[/h]
- 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT) - Queen Beatrix signs the act of abdication at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam
- 10:30 - the former queen, now Princess Beatrix, and the new King Willem-Alexander appear on the palace balcony, with new Queen Maxima
- 14:00 - King Willem-Alexander is sworn in at the Nieuwe Kerk
- 19:30 - performance of The Song for the King followed by a water pageant
The three then held hands on the balcony as the national anthem was played, before the new king and queen's three young daughters were brought out to wave at the crowds.
Their eldest daughter, nine-year-old Catharina-Amalia, has become Princess of Orange and is now first-in-line to the throne.
Willem-Alexander will later be officially sworn in at a secular ceremony in the Nieuwe Kerk, a decommissioned church, before a joint session of the Dutch parliament.
In the evening, the royal family will take part in a water pageant.
Many royals and high-ranking dignitaries have been invited to take part in the events, including the UK's Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain and Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and his wife.
On Monday, Queen Beatrix thanked the nation, saying the people's devotion had given her the strength to carry on during her 33-year reign.
"Without your heart-warming and encouraging displays of affection, the burdens, which certainly have existed, would have weighed heavily," she said.
Paying tribute to her late husband Prince Claus, who died in 2002, she said he had helped modernise the House of Orange.
"Perhaps history will bear out that the choice of my partner was my best decision," said the monarch, who is known affectionately as "Queen Bea".
Continue reading the main story [h=2]European press review[/h] "Fond as the Dutch are of the departing Queen Beatrix... at 75 she has only limited gossip potential. On the other hand, Willem-Alexander's Argentinean investment banker wife, Maxima, who becomes queen today, generates endless "glamour" interest, and their three daughters... still have their teenage years ahead of them, packed with "red-top" potential" - Peter Cluskey, writing in the Irish Times
"Maxima of the Netherlands, the Sun Queen... The most popular member of the Dutch royal family, Maxima... is preparing to enter legend.... She will give her three daughters to the Crown... an ace in her sleeve for the Dutch monarchy is feminine and matriarchal" - Stephane Bern, writing in France's Figaro-Madame
"The Dutch royal house is quite unique and perhaps the most modern and appropriate to the 21st Century. It is a monarchy where traditions carry great weight yet it manages to be a family very close to the people" - Gerardo Correas, writing in Spain's La Razon
She said hereditary authority of itself did not give substance to a contemporary monarchy; rather this was earned through "the will to serve the country".
Willem-Alexander has said he wants to "be a king that can bring society together, representative and encouraging in the 21st Century".
He has said he does not expect to be called "his majesty," saying instead people can "address me as they wish".
Abdication 'tradition' Queen Beatrix is the sixth monarch from the House of Orange-Nassau, which has ruled the Netherlands since the early 19th Century.
Correspondents say she is extremely popular with most Dutch people, but her abdication was widely expected and will not provoke a constitutional crisis. Under Dutch law, the monarch has few powers and the role is considered ceremonial.
He or she is expected to be politically impartial, co-sign acts of parliament, help with the formation of new governments and to undertake state visits.
Modest crown Continue reading the main story King Willem-Alexander has become not only the monarch of the Netherlands but also the Dutch Caribbean territories of Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten. He holds several military titles but requested an honourable discharge before his accession.
In recent decades it has become the tradition for the monarch to abdicate.
Queen Beatrix's mother Juliana resigned the throne in 1980 on her 71st birthday, and her grandmother Wilhelmina abdicated in 1948 at the age of 68.
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands thanked the nation
Queen Beatrix has remained active in recent years, but her reign has also seen traumatic events.
In 2009 a would-be attacker killed eight people when he drove his car into crowds watching the queen and other members of the royal family in a national holiday parade.
In February last year her second son, Prince Friso, was struck by an avalanche in Austria and remains in a coma.
Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions