National Holidays

April 30th - Queen's Day

Her majesty Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard Queen of the Netherlands was born on 31st January 1938, the first child of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernard. Her majesty was born at Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, where she lived until May 1940, when, on the German invasion of the Netherlands, the family left for the United Kingdom. From there the royal family moved to Ottawa in Canada with their new member, Princess Irene, the queen's little sister who was born in 1939.

It was not until five years later, on 2nd August 1945, that the family along with their third child Princess Margriet born in Canada in 1943, set foot on Dutch soil again.

On 31st January 1956, her majesty celebrated her 18th birthday. From that date, under the Constitution of the Netherlands, she was entitled to assume the royal prerogative. From that date too, she was installed in the Council of State. Her majesty married Prince Claus von Amsberg on March 10th 1966 with whom she has three sons. The eldest, Willem Alexander, will succeed her under the name of Willem IV. On 30 April 1980 which was her mother's birthday, she was crowned Queen of the Netherlands.    The late Prince Claus suffered various health problems during his life, such as depression, cancer and Parkinson's disease. He died on October 6, 2002 after a long illness. His embalmed body was placed in the royal family's tomb in Delft on October 15. It was the first full state funeral since Wilhelmina's in 1962.

Despite the saying that The Queen has only a representative role and not political responsibility, it is she who selects the "formateur" of a new government or who speaks in secrecy with the ministers and signs the new laws. Our Queen is a real ruler, giving greatness to the monarchy and the large majority of the people is very satisfied with the queen. On 30 April every year we celebrate this as a national holiday, as the coronation day. Besides official ceremonies, kite contests, sporting events and other fun activities are organized throughout the island.