Author: Dutch King “his own man,” more emotional than Beatrix

King Willem-Alexander is very much "his own man" and you can see it in the way he rules the Netherlands. He is also more emotional than his mother, according to Rob Knijff in his book Willem-Alexander, in gesprek met de koning in wording, AD reports. Knijff followed Willem-Alexander when he was still only the crown prince during his formative years in the late 90's. He now decided to Publish a book about it. According to the author, Princess Beatrix was much more reserved and stiff during her reign. King Willem-Alexander "wears his heart much more on his tongue". Knijff thinks that the King's visit to the Hague Market last week, making a statement about the terrorist attacks in Brussels with crates full of carrots and beans in the background, shows this perfectly. "He talks on the radio and television, is much more emphatically present. But he is especially 'his own man', he was that as crown prince already." Knijff said to the newspaper. "When he was in a car accident in southern Germany with his then girlfriend Emily Bremers on board, Beatrix did not eve know that he was there with her. Doesn't that say a lot?" If Willem-Alexander wasn't King of the Netherlands, and instead grew up in a normal family, Knijff thinks he would've gone into real estate. "He is very handy with that." Knijff said. "He knows what he is doing with money. It would not surprise me if he actively interferes with the family capital of the Oranjes, as his grandfather Prince Bernhard did."