Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willem-Alexander |
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Formal portrait, 2013
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| King of the Netherlands | |||||
| Reign | 30 April 2013 – present | ||||
| Inauguration | 30 April 2013 | ||||
| Predecessor | Beatrix | ||||
| Heir apparent | Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange | ||||
| Born | 27 April 1967 Utrecht, Netherlands |
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| Father | Claus von Amsberg | ||||
| Mother | Beatrix of the Netherlands | ||||
| Religion | Protestant | ||||
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| Education | Leiden University (doctorandus) | ||||
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| Years of service | 1985–2013 | ||||
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Willem-Alexander (Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; born 27 April 1967) is the King of the Netherlands. He became king on 30 April 2013.
Willem-Alexander was born in Utrecht when his grandmother, Queen Juliana, was queen. He is the oldest child of Princess Beatrix (who later became Queen) and Prince Claus. When his mother became queen on 30 April 1980, he became the Prince of Orange, meaning he was next in line to the throne.
He went to public schools in the Netherlands and an international school in Wales. He served in the Royal Netherlands Navy and studied history at Leiden University. In 2002, he married Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti. They have three daughters: Catharina-Amalia, Alexia, and Princess Ariane.
Willem-Alexander became king after his mother stepped down on 30 April 2013. He is the first man to be king of the Netherlands since his great-great-grandfather William III in 1890. Before him, three queens ruled: his great-grandmother Wilhelmina, his grandmother Juliana, and his mother Beatrix.
King Willem-Alexander is very interested in sports and how we manage water around the world. Before he became king, he was part of the International Olympic Committee. He also led groups that advised on water issues for the United Nations and the Dutch government.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Willem-Alexander was born on 27 April 1967 in Utrecht. He was the first child of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus. He was also the first grandchild of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard. He was the first boy born into the Dutch royal family in a long time.
From birth, he had titles like Prince of the Netherlands and Prince of Orange-Nassau. He was baptized into the Dutch Reformed Church on 2 September 1967. His godparents included his grandfather, Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
He has two younger brothers: Prince Friso (who passed away in 2013) and Prince Constantijn (born in 1969). The family lived in a castle called Drakensteyn until 1981. Then they moved to a larger palace, Huis ten Bosch, in The Hague.
When his mother, Beatrix, became Queen in 1980, Willem-Alexander became the Prince of Orange. This meant he was the next in line to the throne at 13 years old.
He went to primary school in Baarn from 1973 to 1979. He then attended secondary schools in Baarn and The Hague. From 1983 to 1985, he studied at the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales, where he earned his International Baccalaureate.
After his military service, Willem-Alexander studied history at Leiden University from 1987 to 1993. He earned a Master of Arts degree. He wrote his final paper on how the Netherlands reacted when France left NATO's command structure.
Besides Dutch, Willem-Alexander can speak English, Spanish, French, and German.
Military Service and Career
Before going to university, Willem-Alexander served in the Royal Netherlands Navy from August 1985 to January 1987. He trained at the Royal Netherlands Naval College. He served on frigates, starting as an ensign. In 1988, he received more training and became a lieutenant (junior grade).
As a reservist, he continued to be promoted in the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Royal Marechaussee. He reached ranks like commodore in the Navy and brigadier general in the Army and Marechaussee.
Before he became king in 2013, Willem-Alexander left the armed forces. This is because the head of state cannot be a serving member of the military. As king, he can wear a military uniform with special royal symbols, but not his old rank badges.
Interests and Public Work
Since he turned 18 in 1985, Willem-Alexander has been a member of the Council of State of the Netherlands. This is an important advisory group for the Dutch government, and the head of state (first his mother, now him) leads it.
He is very interested in how we manage water. He was an honorary member of the World Commission on Water for the 21st century. He also chaired the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation.
In 2010, Willem-Alexander and Máxima went to Willemstad to represent his mother at a special ceremony.
He was also a patron of the Dutch Olympic Games Committee. From 1998 to 2013, he was a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). When he became king, he gave up his membership and received the Gold Olympic Order. He has supported the idea of the Netherlands bidding for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Becoming King
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On 28 January 2013, Queen Beatrix announced she would step down. On 30 April 2013, Beatrix signed the papers to abdicate at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Later that day, Willem-Alexander was officially made king in a ceremony at the Nieuwe Kerk.
As king, Willem-Alexander meets weekly with the prime minister. He also talks regularly with other government ministers. He signs all new laws and royal decisions. He represents the Netherlands both at home and when visiting other countries.
At the start of each parliamentary year, he gives the Speech from the Throne. This speech announces the government's plans for the year. The king also appoints and dismisses government ministers. He is the President of the Council of State, which advises on new laws. However, the king usually does not lead these meetings in modern times.
When he became king at 46, he was the youngest monarch in Europe. As of July 2025, he is the third-youngest, after Frederik X of Denmark and Felipe VI of Spain. He was one of four new monarchs in 2013.
Other Activities
Willem-Alexander loves to fly planes. He once said that if he hadn't been a royal, he would have wanted to be an airline pilot. He regularly flew the Dutch royal aircraft during his mother's reign.
In May 2017, he shared that he had worked as a first officer for KLM flights for 21 years. He flew KLM Cityhopper's Fokker 70 planes twice a month, even after becoming king. He was rarely recognized in his uniform. After KLM stopped using the Fokker 70, he started flying Boeing 737s. As of April 2025, he is training to fly Airbus A321neo planes.
Using the name "W. A. van Buren", he completed the 1986 Frisian Elfstedentocht. This is a 200-kilometer (124-mile) ice skating tour. He also ran the full New York City Marathon in 1992 using the same name.
Marriage and Family
On 2 February 2002, Willem-Alexander married Máxima Zorreguieta in Amsterdam. They have three daughters: The Princess of Orange, Princess Alexia, and Princess Ariane.
| Name | Date of birth | Place of birth | Age |
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| Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange | 7 December 2003 | The Hague, Netherlands | 21 |
| Princess Alexia of the Netherlands | 26 June 2005 | The Hague, Netherlands | 20 |
| Princess Ariane of the Netherlands | 10 April 2007 | The Hague, Netherlands | 18 |
Privacy and Public Life
The Dutch government has rules about how the media can photograph the royal family. Photos are always allowed when they are doing their official duties. For private times, like holidays, the government arranges a photo session. After that, the press is asked to leave the family alone.
In October 2020, King Willem-Alexander apologized for a family holiday trip to Greece. This trip happened while his country was under a partial lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. He and his family returned early. In a video, he said it "hurts to have betrayed" people's trust.
Royal Homes
From 2003 until 2019, Willem-Alexander and his family lived in Villa Eikenhorst. After his mother became Princess Beatrix again, she moved to Drakensteyn castle. The King and his family then moved to the newly renovated Huis ten Bosch palace in The Hague in 2019.
Willem-Alexander also has a villa in Kranidi, Greece.
Titles and Styles
- 27 April 1967 – 30 April 1980: His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
- 30 April 1980 – 30 April 2013: His Royal Highness The Prince of Orange
- 30 April 2013 – present: His Majesty The King
His full title is: His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, etc., etc., etc.
Willem-Alexander is the first Dutch king since Willem III (who died in 1890). He chose to keep the name Willem-Alexander when he became king, instead of Willem IV.
Images for kids
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King Willem-Alexander's signature
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The Royal Coat of Arms of the Netherlands
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The Royal Standard of the Netherlands
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The coat of arms used by the children of Queen Beatrix
See also
In Spanish: Guillermo Alejandro de los Países Bajos para niños
