The Queen

There are different ways of running a country. In some countries, one person is in charge. In others a small group runs things. And in other countries everyone gets a say in how things are done.

In the Netherlands everybody has a say in how the country is run, but one person is head of state. That person is the King or Queen.

The King or Queen is not chosen by the people. His or her oldest child becomes the next King or Queen. When Queen Beatrix stops being Queen, her oldest son, Prince Willem-Alexander, will become King.

Queen Beatrix became Queen in 1980, following on from her mother, Queen Juliana.

Queen Beatrix does not wear a crown. This is because Dutch Kings and Queens are not crowned but invested. So the crown is not put on their head. It stands on a table during the investiture. That is the ceremony when they are made King or Queen.