Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was born in University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands on April 27th, 1967 and is the King. At the age of 57, Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 57 years old, Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has this physical status:
Willem-Alexander (born Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; 27 April 1967) is the King of the Netherlands, having ascended the throne following his mother's abdication in 2013. Willem-Alexander was born in Utrecht as the oldest child of Princess Beatrix and diplomat Claus van Amsberg.
On his mother's ascension as Queen on April 30, 1980, he succeeded her following her abduction on June 30, 2013.
He went to public primary and secondary schools, served in the Royal Netherlands Navy, and studied history at Leiden University.
He married Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti in 2002, and they have three children: Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange (born 2003), Princess Alexia (born 2005), and Princess Ariane (born 2007). Willem-Alexander is interested in sports and international water management issues.
Before his ascension to the throne, he served as chairman of the International Olympic Committee on Water to the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Environment (1998-2013), and chairman of the United Nations' Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (2006–2013).
Early life and education
Willem-Alexander Ferdinand was born in Utrecht, Netherlands, on April 27, 1967 at the University Medical Center Utrecht (now known as the University Medical Center Utrecht). He is Prince Beatrix and Prince Claus' first child and Prince Bernhard's first grandchild. He was the first male Dutch royal baby since Prince Alexander's birth in 1851 and the first male heir since Alexander's death in 1884.
Willem-Alexander has occupied the positions Prince of the Netherlands (Dutch: Prins van Nederlanden), Prince of Orange-Nassau (Dutch: Prins van Oranje-Nassau), and Jonkheer of Amsberg since birth (Dutch: Jonkheer van Amsberg). In Saint Jacob's Church in The Hague, he was baptized as a member of the Dutch Reformed Church on September 2nd, 1967. Prince Bernhard von Lippe-Biesterfeld, his paternal grandmother Gösta Freiman von der Bussche-Haddenhausen, former Prime Minister Jelle Zijlstra, Jonkvrouw Renée Röell, and Denmark's Queen Margrethe II are among his godparents.
Prince Friso (1968–2013) and Prince Constantijn (born 1969) were two younger brothers. He and his family were living in the hamlet Lage Vuursche near Baarn from his birth until 1981, when they transferred to the larger palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague. Beatrix, his mother, became Queen of the Netherlands in 1980, after his grandmother Juliana abdicated. He was later appointed Prince of Orange as the successor of the Netherlands' throne at the age of 13.
Willem-Alexander attended the local state primary school Nieuwe Baarnse Elementary School in Baarn from 1973 to 1979. He attended two separate state secondary schools, the Baarns Lyceum in Baarn (1979 to 1981), and the Eerste Vrijzinnig Lyceum in The Hague, the United Kingdom (1983 to 1985), which earned his International Baccalaureate.
Willem-Alexander studied History at Leiden University from 1987 to 1989, receiving his MA degree (doctorandus) in 1993. His final report was on the Dutch reaction to France's decision under President Charles de Gaulle to abandon the NATO's integrated command system.
Willem-Alexander speaks in English, Spanish, French, and German (his father's native language, despite never receiving German language lessons from him) fluently in lieu of his native Dutch.
Military training and career
Willem-Alexander served in the Royal Netherlands Navy from August 1985 to January 1987, alternating secondary school and university education. He began his studies at the Royal Netherlands Naval College and the frigates HNLMS Tromp and HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen, where he was stationed. He underwent further training at HNLMS Van Kinsbergen in 1988, becoming a lieutenant (junior grade).
Willem-Alexander was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1995, Captain at Sea in 2001, and Commodore in 2005 as a reservist for the Royal Netherlands Navy. He was commissioned as a Major (Grenadiers' and Rifles Guard Regiment) in 1995 and 2005, as a reservist for the Royal Netherlands Army, and Brigadier General in 2005. He was appointed Squadron Leader in 1995 and then promoted to Air Commodore in 2005 as a reserve for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. He was made Brigadier General in 2005 as a reservist for the Royal Marechaussee.
Willem-Alexander was honorably released from the armed forces before his investiture as king in 2013. Since the government owns absolute control over the armed forces, the government has confirmed that the head of state cannot be a serving member of the armed forces. Willem-Alexander, the king, may choose to wear a military uniform with royal insignia, but not with his former rank insignia.