Since 2002
Civic integration
Princess Máxima completed her civic integration programme in early 2005. Since becoming engaged, the Princess has been familiarising herself with Dutch society and the society of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, a programme that includes the study of Dutch language, history and constitutional law.
Council of State
Since 20 October 2004, Princess Máxima has been a member of the Council of State, the most important government advisory body.
Official duties
Princess Máxima, often with Prince Willem-Alexander, represents the Royal House at official occasions of all kinds. She also accompanies the Queen on state visits.
Committee for Ethnic Minority Women's Participation
Princess Máxima was a member of the Committee for
Ethnic Minority Women's Participation from July 2003 till summer
2005. The Committee supported the 30 largest municipalities in promoting
the participation in society of women from ethnic minority groups. It was
chaired by former Member of Parliament Paul Rosenmöller.
The Princess sits on the board of governors of the Chair on the Management of
Diversity and Integration at the Free University of Amsterdam.
Microfinance
At the invitation of the United Nations, Princess Máxima was involved in the Advisors Group to the International Year of Microcredit 2005. Throughout 2005 the Group met on a regular basis to discuss progress towards achieving universal access to financial services.
In February 2005 the Princess visited Uganda and Kenya to see microcredit in action. She also met with government, business and NGO representatives. At the end of 2005 Princess Máxima made similar visits to Brazil and Argentina.
In June 2006 Princess Máxima joined the United Nations Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors, charged with following up on the results of the International Year of Microcredit 2005. As well as microcredit, which involves making small loans available to the economically active poor, the Advisors Group addresses the issue of wider access to all financial services for small businesses. Such services include loans, savings accounts, insurance, money transfers and other financial products. The Princess wants to contribute to the Advisors Group by entering into dialogue with businesses, donors, legislators, supervisors, microfinance institutions and international organisations on the role they could play in giving more small businesses access to the financial sector.
In 2009, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon designated Princess Máxima as his Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. Princess Máxima advises the Secretary-General on access to financial services and works to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to all forms of financial service. In many countries, large numbers of people are unable to open a bank account, negotiate a loan or purchase insurance. Access to financial services will enhance the development of, in particular, low-income groups and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Orange Fund
Princess Máxima and Prince Willem-Alexander are patrons of the Orange Fund, which was set up to promote social welfare and cohesion in the Netherlands. Every year in May, the Princess presents Appeltje van Oranje awards to institutions that set an example in the field of welfare.
Prince Claus Chair
The Princess chairs the Board of Trustees of the Prince Claus Chair, which is occupied in turn at Utrecht University and the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. The Chair was endowed to promote training and research in the field of development cooperation.