The Netherlands has a King. The act of abdication has just been signed.

So next year no Queens day on April 30th but Kings day on April 26th, and after that on April 27th.

Lijkt me een aardige vent. Apologies for the poor Dutch hetismij2.

If anyone's interested, there is a livestream of the main Dutch TV channel's coverage on Youtube. They did the formal signatures and balcony bit about half an hour ago, and the ceremonial inauguration is in about 2.30 hours (2pm Dutch time).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ5uxO4yB-w

Congratulations Hets & all our Netherlands friends.
Best wishes to your new King & Queen and of course to Queen Beatrix.

I hope she has a long, happy & fulfilling retirement.

Geluukig laatste koninginnedag hetismij2!

I thought our new King and Queen looked wonderful, with their three princesses.
Looks like a lovely day in Amsterdam.
Oranje boven!

BBC News is also covering it. Such a contrast to the British royalty.

Yes! both of them were looking very nice and the 3 beautiful ladies were looking like angles.

Hopefully Robyn (artstuff) will do a trip report. She is in Amsterdam today I believe.

I went to our local vrijemarkt this morning. It was very quiet, though more people were turning up. They had a big screen up to follow the events of the day.
Big party this evening as always and fireworks of course.

Thank you <b>hetismij</b> for the heads up. Holland will never be the same. And thank you <b>PatrickLondon</b> for the YouTube link. The camera work is beautiful, in HD. The schedule there has events posted as
10.00 uur - Het tekenen van de Akte van Abdicatie
10.30 uur -- Balkonscène met prinses Beatrix en de nieuwe koning en zijn gezin
14.00 uur -- Inhuldiging in de Nieuwe Kerk
19.30 uur -- Koningslied vanuit Ahoy in Rotterdam en op het IJ, met aansluitend de Koningsvaart op het IJ
21.30 uur -- Concert André Rieu op het Museumplein

The people have just walked from the palace to the church where the coronation will take place. Times are 6 hours ahead of US Eastern time so the king gets his crown at 8:00 our time.

The concert should be nice. If you don't know of André Rieu here is a preview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXkR23N6YO8

Oranje boven - I think I've drank a few pints of that in my youth,,, or maybe it was oranje boom

That was Oranjeboom. Oranje boven means 'orange on top' which is sung for the Queen - the King now.

Just watching Charles & Camilla entering the church. He was also present at Queen Beatrix investiture, and now King Willem-Alexander. And he is still Prince Charles...

when will Holland get modern and abolish this medieval institution of a monarchy - even one with nearly no real power. What a farce - and I thought the Dutch were at the forefront of evolved common sense thinking, what with the enlightened policies on euthanasia and cannabis - why do the Dutch need a monarch?

Get with the 21st century - kid rid of a monarch - Head of State really that gets their position only by birth.

Shame on Holland for continuing to have a monarch - I expect more of such an enlightened society!

Long live the King but may the monarchy die!

No monarchy no Queens/Kings day Pal.

Entirely up to the Dutch people whether they keep the monarchy or not, and though there is a small republican movement most Dutch are either very pro monarchy or just plain couldn't care less one way or the other. Maybe when Amalia is due to be queen things will have changed, but I doubt it.

Oh and Spaarne - it isn't a Coronation - he doesn't get crowned. It is more an investiture or inauguration.

I am impressed with the young Princesses sitting through it all. The youngest, Ariane is only just 6 after all.

It looks like a fun spirited day in Holland! Enjoy yourselves there!

Yes...long live the King and your tradition.

hetismij, thanks for sharing the news!

"why do the Dutch need a monarch?"

For the same reason most civilised countries have one.

Because a constitutional monarchy is the most efficient way of ensuring a tolerant democracy. As any random choice of constitutional monarchies compared to their alternatives easily demonstrates.

Now it may well be that constitutional monarchies work only in civilised countries. After all, you'll never find an Englishman, a Dutchwoman, a Swede, an Australian or a Norwegian obnoxiously asking the Yanks when they're going to get rid of their absurd pseudo-monarchy. Least of all on the day the Yanks are installing their latest third-rate politician as pseudo-monarch.

Does a country have to be civilised to get a constitutional monarch? Or does having a constitutional monarch make a country civilised?

Who cares? The system works. Without squandering the fortunes the French and the Yanks waste on their posturing leaders.

the system works - pablum - the Dutch and Brits would be just as well off - or in the case of Britain just as bad off - if they had no monarchs - and if having a monarch is key then why select a monarch based solely on birth - why not select the best possible monarch - do you really want Prince Harry to ever have a chance to take over the throne - why Brits have shown they have little shame with tolerating Prince Harry's idiot actions so long live the monarchy and the people whose taxes pay for their lavish lifestyles.

Ignoring PalenQ
Looks like a good party to me
Congrats to the Netherlands