Willem-Alexander's Inauguration

Willem-Alexander was inaugurated in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam as the new king of the Netherlands on Tuesday morning. At 10:07 am Beatrix signed the Act of Abdication, which automatically made Willem-Alexander the new king. Shortly afterwards, Beatrix presented Willem-Alexander to the crowds at the de Dam in Amsterdam. Willem-Alexander and Máxima waved to the public from the balcony of the Palace with their three daughters. At 14:21 pm Willem-Alexander swore with two raised fingers to the people of the kingdom that he would always support and uphold the Statute for the Kingdom and the Constitution. He also promised to defend the independence of the Netherlands and to protect the rights of all his subordinates. He concluded with “So help me, God Almighty!” NOS.nl reported that just before the oath taking, Willem-Alexander thanked his mother Beatrix. He said that he would carry the wisdom and the warmth of his mother with him. Afterwards, the members of the States General received the new king on behalf of the nation. The Members of the Parliament followed. Sixteen of them did not want to swear loyalty for different reasons. Out of the sixteen, four stayed away from the church while twelve attended but were not mentioned.