More Dutch say they’d rather have a King than risk getting a "type like Trump"
Amid persistent global unpredictability, Dutch support for the monarchy has risen sharply, with some reportedly explicitly saying they prefer a king over the risk of getting “a type like Trump” as head of state, a new RTL Nieuws survey has found.
The RTL poll recorded support for the Netherlands remaining a monarchy at 63 percent— up from 55 percent in 2023. The survey, released hours after the annual NOS King’s Day Survey 2026 by Ipsos I&O, aligns with that poll’s finding of similarly strong backing for the monarchy at 62 percent.
In the RTL survey, enthusiasm for a republic with an elected president has declined. Participants pointed to the unappealing prospect of getting “a type like Trump” as head of state. One panelist said, “You’ll get a type like Trump at the top; who wants that?” Trump remains deeply unpopular in the Netherlands, according to earlier RTL Nieuwspanel research.
Respondents said the current global unpredictability has increased the desire for a non-political head of state who stands “above parties.” They view the royal family as providing exactly that type of stability.
Trust in the royal couple remains high in the RTL polling. Eighty-one percent say Queen Máxima represents the Netherlands well abroad, and 70 percent see her as a unifying figure.
For King Willem-Alexander, those figures are 76 percent and 62 percent, respectively. Sixty-nine percent trust Princess Amalia as the future queen, though 20-30 percent have no firm opinion yet due to her limited public role so far.
The surveys come shortly after the royal couple’s working visit to the United States, including a dinner and overnight stay at the White House with President Trump two weeks ago. King Willem-Alexander later said the visit successfully avoided sensitive topics.
Past controversies — including the 2020 family vacation in Greece during tightened COVID-19 restrictions and Princess Amalia’s crowded 18th birthday party in 2021 that exceeded gathering guidelines — appear largely forgiven and forgotten.
