On the 28th of January 2013 Queen Beatrix announced her abdication. The Prince of Orange, her eldest son, will succeed her. The abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of King Willem-Alexander took place in Amsterdam on the 30th of April 2013.
The new King was not crowned, but inaugurated in a Joint Session of the Senate and the House of Representatives, who are formally known as the States General. During the investiture the King delivered a speech to the nation and pledges his allegiance to the constitution, the Statute of the Kingdom, the country and its inhabitants.
This was followed by the inauguration which existed mainly of a declaration of the President of the Joint Session on behalf of the States General, the States of Aruba, the States of Curaçao and the States of Sint Maarten. This declaration was affirmed individually by the President, each of the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives and by a delegation of the States of Aruba, of Curaçao and of Sint Maarten. The inauguration has no legal consequences, but is a solemn expression of the commitment of the States General (and States) and the King to the constitution and the Statute of the Kingdom and to each other.
The investiture took place during a ceremonial Joint Session of the States General. The President of the Joint Session (also Chairman of the Senate), mr G.J. de Graaf, lead the preparations for this assembly in close cooperation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, ms A. van Miltenburg. The President of the Joint Session was supported by the Secretary General of the Senate, mr G.J.A. Hamilton, who was also chair of the organising committee of the Joint Session, and the Secretary General of the House of Representatives, ms J.M.A. Biesheuvel. For the whole of the official ceremonies and celebrations the States General worked in close cooperation with the government, the City of Amsterdam and the director of the Nieuwe Kerk.
Press releases:
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Musical programme
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Speech of the President of the Joint Session
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Programme for the swearing in and investiture of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander
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Speech President of the Joint Session at international press conference
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Factsheet abdication and investiture
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Committee of Attendance
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Résumé President of the Senate
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Résumé Speaker of the House of Representatives