Dutch support for royal family grows to 59%, first increase in years
For the first time in years, public support for the Dutch monarchy has grown significantly. According to a new survey by the EenVandaag Opinion Panel, 59 percent of respondents now favor maintaining the monarchy, up from just 50 percent in 2024.
Many respondents said they view the monarchy as preferable to a republic with an elected head of state, particularly one with real political power. The return of Donald Trump as president of the United States appears to have influenced Dutch public opinion.
“Under a republic, it’s almost certain the president would be politically colored,” one participant told EenVandaag. “It would be a nightmare to end up with someone like Trump as president. I’d rather have a somewhat dull monarch.”
The association with Trump has made some respondents more skeptical of systems that allow voters to elect a politically active president. “His election has opened our eyes. A president can turn out to be someone who is completely unlike you,” one panel member noted. “In today’s tense world, that’s just too big a risk.”
Some participants said they now see the royal family as a neutral institution that can serve as a stabilizing force above political factions.
“In calmer times, I might have answered that we should become a republic,” said one respondent. “But right now, I think the monarchy is an additional layer of protection for our democracy — and we still need that layer.”
Historically, young people have been the most critical of the monarchy. Less than half of respondents under 35 previously supported the hereditary head-of-state system. But that trend is also shifting. This year, more than half of young people surveyed said they now prefer to keep the monarchy. About one-third continue to favor a republic.
The findings come just a week before King Willem-Alexander's birthday, which is celebrated nationally on Koningsdag. The boost in popularity is not necessarily credited to the king’s personal performance, but rather to shifting public sentiment in a turbulent global political climate. Respondents described the monarchy as a source of calm amid growing polarization and instability.
While critics of the monarchy often cite its lack of democratic legitimacy, more respondents in this year’s survey expressed appreciation for the monarch’s apolitical role and continuity.
Confidence in King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima has also increased slightly. Last year, 53 percent of respondents said they trusted the king; that figure now stands at 57 percent. Queen Máxima remains slightly more popular, with 59 percent expressing trust in her.
Respondents described the royal couple as a “stable factor in politically uncertain times” and said they represent the Netherlands well on the international stage. However, trust in both remains lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crown Princess Amalia, who turned 21 this year, is becoming more widely known and accepted as a future monarch. Last year, 50 percent of respondents said they saw her as suitable to become queen. This year, that figure has risen to 61 percent.
Many respondents who view her favorably described her as intelligent, calm, and approachable. Several also noted that, unlike politicians, she has spent her entire life preparing for this role. Still, many said they hope she can continue to enjoy her freedom for now.
