The Netherlands is preparing for King’s Day, confidence in the king is stable

King’s Night in Utrecht and Amsterdam in pictures

In Utrecht, King’s Night traditionally kicks off with the flea market in the center. Photo Jeroen Jumelet/ANP

The municipality of Utrecht called on people during King’s Night to temporarily stop coming to the city center because it was so busy. Photo Jeroen Jumelet/ANP

Crowds in the Amsterdam Jordaan during King’s Night. Photo Evert Elzinga/ANP

King’s Night in Amsterdam. Photo Evert Elzinga/ANP

Support for monarchy remains stable, young people less satisfied with king

Support for the monarchy in the Netherlands is stable for the fourth year in a row. This also applies to confidence in King Willem-Alexander. The monarchy can still count on support from a majority of Dutch people, but that support is lower than before the corona crisis. This was evident on Saturday from the annual NOS King’s Day survey, which was conducted by research agency Ipsos I&O among 1,015 people.

According to the researchers, support for the monarchy appears to have suffered permanent damage due to the affairs of the corona crisis. Respondents mentioned, among other things, the holiday in Greece of Willem-Alexander and his family during a lockdown as a reason for less trust.

Satisfaction with the king has also been structurally lower since the corona crisis. Willem-Alexander will receive a 6.6 from the Dutch in 2024, comparable to last year when it was 6.5. In 2020 he could still count on a 7.7. Young people aged 18 to 35 are less satisfied with how he fulfills his role: while 51 percent had confidence in him last year, this is 41 percent this year. At 47 percent, elderly people aged 55 and over are almost as satisfied with Willem-Alexander as they were a year earlier. Queen Máxima remains stable, with a 7.3.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima during the opening of the King’s Games. Support for the monarchy has stabilized since the corona crisis. Photo Remko de Waal/ANP

Welcome to this blog

King Willem-Alexander celebrates his 57th birthday today. He does this in Emmen, together with Queen Máxima and other members of the royal family. The visit can be followed from 11 a.m. Themes such as culture, innovation and sports are on the program in Emmen.

King’s Day is also celebrated in the rest of the country, including festivals, flea markets and other festivities. In this blog you do NRC report of this day.