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a8 local
Saturday 26 april 2025

Today we celebrate our King Willem-Alexander!

signs all laws and royal decrees (KB),
and ratifies international treaties as
part of the government. At the State
Opening of Parliament on the third
Tuesday of September, he delivers
his Throne Speech, in which the gov-
ernment announces its plans for the
upcoming parliamentary year. ander since April 30, 2013:
President of the Council of State;
The constitution requires the mon- Member of the Board of the Archives
arch to appoint, dismiss, and swear of the House of Orange-Nassau Foun-
in all ministers and state secretaries. dation;
In view of this constitutional role, and Member of the Board of the Crown
upon the request of Parliament, the Property Trust;
king may be kept informed of all de- Member of the Board of the Royal
velopments in the formation process. Gifts Trust.

The monarch is officially the president King’s Day events for the family!
(Oranjestad)—Today, our island government. The king represents the of the Council of State, a historic role 26 April:
has the great honor of celebrating Kingdom of the Netherlands at home that is purely symbolic in nature. The • Kite Flying at Centro di Bario
King Willem-Alexander. Although his and abroad. In addition to his formal Council of State provides the gov- Playa Pabao
birthday is on April 27th, this Sunday, duties, King Willem-Alexander works ernment and Parliament with inde- • Flee market and Dutch Food at
the Royal Palace recently issued a in the interests of the Dutch people. pendent advice on legislation and Bingo Restaurant Noord
decree that this year’s celebrations governance and also serves as the • King’s Day Glow in the Dark Walk
will held today, April 26th. As head of state, it is the king's duty highest administrative court in the & Run in the Alhambra Parking
to unify, represent, and encourage country. In addition to the plenary Lot
Willem-Alexander is the first King of the people. meetings attended by the king, the • Fleemarket at Rococo Plaza in
the Netherlands since the death of Council of State consists of an Ad- Tanki Leendert
his great-great-grandfather William The ministers, not the monarch, are ministrative Jurisdiction Division and • Fleemarket at Superfood Plaza
III in 1890. On April 20, 2013, Willem- responsible for government actions, an Advisory Division, whose meetings • King’s Day Beach Party at Surf-
Alexander's inauguration took place and the ministers are accountable do not involve the king. Accordingly, side Beach Bar
at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. to Parliament for what they do and the king is not involved in practice • King’s Day Party at Café 080
Willem-Alexander ascended the say. The ministers, together form- in the two main areas of activity of • King’s Day Festival at Hoya in
throne immediately after the abdi- ing the cabinet, are responsible for the Council. The vice-president is re- Playa Daniel Leo
cation of his mother, Queen Beatrix, decision-making. sponsible for the day-to-day man-
on the same day. agement of the Council of State and 27 April:
The king holds weekly meetings with presides over its meetings. • Rocking King’s Day & Art Fair Mu-
Under the constitution, the king, the prime minister, regularly meets sica at The Music Hub Foundation
along with the ministers, forms the with ministers and state secretaries, Positions held by King Willem-Alex-
(Weststraat 7)q