Inauguration of Beatrix

{{short description|Inauguration of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox historical event

|Event_Name = Inauguration of Queen Beatrix

|Image_Name = File:BeatrixInaug1980 (cropped (Centered on Beatrix)).jpg

|Image_Caption = Queen Beatrix taking the oath

|Participants = {{bulleted list|Queen Beatrix|States General|Dutch Armed Forces|King of Arms|Officer of Arms}}

|Location = Amsterdam, Netherlands

|Date = {{Start date|1980|04|30|df=y}}

}}

The inauguration of Beatrix as Queen of the Netherlands took place on 30 April 1980 at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. Beatrix ascended the throne immediately following the abdication of her mother Juliana earlier that day.

Celebrations were largely marred by riots, known as the Amsterdam coronation riots.

Background

File:Koningin Juliana maakt haar aftreden bekend via de TV, Bestanddeelnr 930-6513.jpg

Following a reign of 31 years which began with the abdication of her mother Queen Wilhelmina in 1948, Queen Juliana, in a television and radio address to the nation on 31 January 1980, announced her intent to abdicate the throne in favour of her eldest daughter, Beatrix, in accordance with the precedence set by her mother.{{cite web |title=Princess of the Netherlands |url=https://www.royal-house.nl/members-royal-house/in-memoriam/queen-juliana/princess-of-the-netherlands |website=Royal House of the Netherlands |date=20 January 2015 |access-date=6 September 2023}}{{cite web |title=Netherlands: Queen Juliana Announces her Abdication After 31 Year Reign |url=https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/179620/ |website=British Pathé |access-date=6 September 2023}}

Abdication

File:Akte van abdicatie van Koningin Juliana - Deed of abdication of Queen Juliana (8637710944).jpg

At 10:06 AM CEST on 30 April 1980, her 71st birthday, Queen Juliana signed the instrument of abdication in the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Juliana thus relinquished the Dutch throne and all its associated titles and styles. She reverted to her pre-accession martial titles "Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Duchess of Mecklenburg, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld" with the style of Royal Highness.

Afterward, Queen Beatrix, Prince Claus, Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard appeared on the palace balcony. The outgoing and incoming queens both made speeches. Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard left the balcony, making way for the new Queen's three sons, Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince Johan-Friso and Prince Constantijn, to symbolise the transition of the Royal House.

Inauguration

=Procession=

File:Troonswisseling 30 april , Koningin Beatrix en Prins Claus lopen onder pergola n, Bestanddeelnr 930-8016.jpg

En route from the Royal Palace to the Nieuwe Kerk, the Queen was led by a delegation of aids carrying both the Charter and Constitution which were placed on the credence table in front of the throne. The delegation consisted of two kings of arms, the senior one being Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, a member of the resistance and officers of arms. Then came the Sword of state and the gonfalon of state, a white banner bearing the 1815 coat of arms of the Netherlands symbolizing the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

=Ceremony=

Beatrix was inaugurated as queen of the Netherlands in a solemn session of the States General of the Netherlands in the Nieuwe Kerk. During the ceremony, she took his oath of office and swore to uphold the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Constitution of the Netherlands. Following Beatrix's swearing-in, members of the States General swore allegiance.{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Bradley |title=Beatrix Accedes to Dutch Throne |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/05/01/beatrix-accedes-to-dutch-throne/5e0d5730-c5e9-4425-96d8-996c91fc39e3/ |access-date=7 January 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=1 May 1980}}

Queen Beatrix was not physically crowned, but the regalia of the Netherlands was displayed during the ceremony.

=Attire=

Queen Beatrix wore a gown by Dutch designer Theresia Vreugdenhil under the Koningsmantel. She wore the Pearl Button Tiara and the riband and star of the Military Order of William.

=Guests=

==Dutch royal family==

File:Troonswisseling 30 april inhuldiging in Nieuwe Kerk Koninklijke Familie , vl, Bestanddeelnr 253-8329.jpg

==von Amsberg family==

==Foreign royal guests==

Riots

{{Main|Amsterdam coronation riots}}

On the day of the inauguration, large-scale riots were staged by those advocating for squatter's rights. The protesters chanted the slogan Geen woning, geen kroning (No house, no coronation).{{cite web|url=https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/rijksstudio/historical-figures/queen-beatrix|title=Queen Beatrix - Historical figures - Rijksstudio - Rijksmuseum|publisher=}} Around 10,000 police officers and military personnel were present in Amsterdam for the inauguration, thus turning the riots into a major clash.{{cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2084377,00.html|title=Amsterdam vs. the Squatters: Evictions, Arrests and Protests|first=Jean-Pierre|last=Stroobants|magazine=Time|date=20 July 2011|publisher=|via=content.time.com|access-date=7 January 2024|archive-date=22 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222202209/https://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2084377,00.html|url-status=dead}}

600 people were injured and, due to the large public support the royal family enjoyed, the riots largely turned public opinion against the squatters.{{cite web|url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2017/06/deep-lying-even-violent-divisions-are-a-recurring-theme-in-dutch-history/|title=Deep-lying, even violent, divisions are a recurring theme in Dutch history - DutchNews.nl|date=26 June 2017 |publisher=}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}