Crown Princess Amalia starts military internship
Crown Princess Amalia has begun a military internship with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Ministry of Defense reported Wednesday, marking her latest step in military training alongside her university studies.
She has been serving since Monday as a corporal under arms within the Royal Netherlands Air Force, participating in the Defensity College program, which combines academic education with military training and work placements across the armed forces.
Amalia completed the General Military Training at the Defense College in January. During that training, she learned basic military skills, including weapon handling, navigation, camouflage techniques, map reading, and obstacle course training. Before joining the air force, she also worked as a student within the defense ministry's administrative staff in The Hague.
She was formally awarded the Groep Luchtmacht Reserve unit patch on Wednesday at a ceremony attended by senior air force personnel and Colonel Martine Verhulst. She also met Lieutenant General André Steur, commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, as part of her introduction to the unit.
The Defense Ministry said the Defensity College is designed to give students a combination of academic study, military training, and practical experience through rotating placements and structured activities within the armed forces.
Amalia’s participation continues a tradition of Dutch royal family involvement in the military. King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands served in the Royal Netherlands Navy during his military service and later trained across other branches, including earning a military pilot’s license. Queen Máxima is also a trained reservist with the Royal Netherlands Army.
Alongside her military work, Amalia is studying Dutch law at the University of Amsterdam. She completed her secondary education in 2021 with top marks, took a gap year, began university studies in 2022, and later transitioned into her current law degree.
In the meantime, King Willem-Alexander has emphasized the need for stronger defense readiness, saying during a visit to a military training site in Vredepeel that the country must be better prepared in light of the war in Ukraine and other global conflicts.
