Data reveals royal visits concentrated in Randstad, dozens of towns left out

While King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima make efforts to visit locations across the Netherlands, new data reveals a clear geographic imbalance in their official engagements, with almost one-third of Dutch municipalities receiving no royal visit since 2016, according to AD.

An analysis of the public schedule on the official website of the Koninklijk Huis shows that out of the country’s municipalities, 105—just under one-third—have not been visited by the royal couple in nearly a decade. Another 98 municipalities received only one visit. This data excludes any activities held at or around royal palaces and residences.

Although the overlooked municipalities are relatively spread across the country, certain regions stand out more than others. Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, the southernmost part of Zeeland, has seen only one official royal visit in the last nine years. That visit occurred in 2023, when King Willem-Alexander, together with the king of Belgium, attended the opening of a new lock in Terneuzen.

Manuel Eijsackers, 70, a member of the Oranjecomité in Kloosterzande, expressed disappointment that his village in the municipality of Hulst has never received an official visit. “Although he used to come hunting here,” Eijsackers said to AD. “I’ve seen him in the municipality before, but that was private, with friends.” Eijsackers recalled a moment from 2013 when villagers staged a prank, dressing up one local man in a wig to impersonate the king. “We also arranged a Máxima and a big Cadillac,” he said.

The imbalance becomes starker when viewed by province. Since 2016, nearly 70 percent of royal appointments have taken place in just three provinces—Zuid-Holland, Noord-Holland, and Utrecht—all located in the densely populated Randstad region. Zuid-Holland tops the list with 518 visits, followed by Noord-Holland with 282, and Utrecht with 170. In contrast, Flevoland received only 21 royal visits, while Zeeland and Drenthe were visited 26 times each.

Even when adjusting for population size, the disparity remains large. “The distribution is much better now,” royal reporter Rick Evers told AD, referring to the royal calendar in 2023. “Other types of visits have been added, and last year, they did go to all the provinces.” According to the Government Information Service (RVD), the planning of royal visits takes population and regional distribution into account.

Still, Evers—who has covered the royal family for years—dubbed Willem-Alexander the “Randstad King” in 2023, highlighting that Flevoland had been completely skipped that year. According to the records, only in 2019, 2020, and 2024 did the royal couple visit all provinces.

Much of the Randstad-heavy scheduling is tied to major national events held there, such as the National Remembrance Day in Amsterdam and Prinsjesdag in The Hague. However, many other royal visits—such as regional tours, organization visits, and awards ceremonies—could potentially be hosted elsewhere in the country.

Some engagements are based on official invitations, while others are chosen by the king and queen to spotlight organizations they personally support. During state visits, the royal couple also introduces foreign dignitaries to Dutch cultural sites. In 2023, for example, Queen Máxima brought the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron to the Keukenhof.

According to Evers, Queen Máxima’s wardrobe can indicate the nature of the event. “If she’s wearing a hat, she’s there as queen—usually for ceremonies and openings. If she’s not wearing one, she’s focusing on content. A hat would only be a distraction.”

Evers noted a shift in royal style and engagement compared to previous monarchs. “Beatrix always brought along an adjutant and a lady-in-waiting,” he said. “Máxima and Willem-Alexander aren’t into that kind of fuss.”

Instead, the current royal couple aims to remain actively engaged. Former Queen Beatrix served as patron of dozens of organizations. “Willem-Alexander and Máxima have scaled that back significantly so they can stay more involved,” Evers explained. “Máxima really wants to go in-depth. She wants to make an impact. She enjoys attending events, but she wants to see that her presence is meaningful and can help the organization move forward.”

Máxima is particularly involved in initiatives such as MindUs, which addresses mental health challenges among young people, and SchuldenLab, which tackles personal debt.

“I think Willem-Alexander is at his best when he’s speaking with everyday people in the country,” Evers said. “You can see him gritting his teeth a little when he has to go out with a head of state he doesn’t connect with. For other heads of state, it might be the highlight of their agenda, but for him…”

In Kloosterzande, Eijsackers continues to hope the king will one day make an official visit. “I advocate for Hulst. We’re not a world city that needs to be put on the map. But Zeeuws-Vlaanderen is a bit of a forgotten area—we call ourselves a ‘landje apart,’ a country of our own.”