By a simple signature from his mother, Queen Beatrix, under an abdication declaration, Willem-Alexander became King of the Netherlands in the Amsterdam Royal Dam Palace today at approximately 10.35 hr AM local time.
Thereafter the new King will be inaugurated by swearing to be true and loyal to the Dutch Constitution before both Houses (Chambers) of Dutch Parliament.
Thereafter the two houses of Dutch Parliament will swear their loyalty to the King.
Even Big Brother Google blesses the new King and Queen with the above picture, albeit the Alt tag is a bit confusing:
Queensday 2013: Best Whishes to King Willem-Alexander!
Actually there is no Queensday today. It is Abdication and hence Inauguration Day today.
This is the last official portrait of Queen Beatrix as Queen of The Netherlands. On April 30, 2013 she will be succeeded by her Son, Prince Willem-Alexander.
Currently H.R.H Prince Willem Alexander of The Netherlands (left) is clean shaven. He will be the first King in over 100 years after his mother H.M. Queen Beatrix (right) will abdicate in favor of him on April 30, 2013. However according to a funny FacBook page Zonder Baard Geen Koning (i.e. No Beard? No King!) which started yesterday and collected some 20,000 likes in its first 24 hours, Willem-Alexander has still 90 days to grow a nice beard.
On October 27, 2012, one year after I shared the speculations about Steve Job’s unfinished super yacht, his Super Yacht Venus has been unveiled in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands ( a stone’s throw from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport) at the Dutch Royal Feadship De Vries yard.
Reportedly the yacht is operated via 7 Imacs. Very daring, I would say, to trust the software so much to have it reign a super yacht. Although I know Oracle’s Larry Ellison reportedly developed his own software to do same with some of his super yachts.
Source and photo’s: The Dutch language blog One More Thing
Traditionally on the third Tuesday of September our Queen makes a tour through The Hague in her Golden Carriage. Before the two houses of Dutch Parliament, the Second Chamber or House of Representatives (150 representatives) and the Senate or First Chamber (75 senators), in a Joint Meeting, she voices the Speech of The Throne, highlighting the plans of Dutch Government for the coming Parliamentary Year and declares the new Parliamentary Year open. The Dutch Minister of Finance then presents the Budget for the next year. One could compare it with the State of The Union Address in the US or the Speech from The Throne in the UK.
This year the whole ceremony is a bit weird, because we’ve just had General Elections and tomorrow will see a completely different Second Chamber then today. Also the budget has been prepared by a government that is demissionary which means it operates but has resigned. The newly elected Parliament will (hopefully in a short time) form a new Government. Politically sensitive subjects are not handled by a demissionary Government.
The Dutch name for the day is “Prinsjesdag” or Day of the princes, as it is customary the childs of the king (or queen) sit in on the ceremony next to the Queen. In recent years only Crown Prince Willem Alexander sits in.
Here you see the Golden Carriage leaving the Ridderzaal at the “Binnenhof” were Our houses of Parliament have their seat. Photo via Wikimedia by Dutch Ministry of Defense (R J Essink).
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