2 Euro Proof – Issue 1

Beatrix was born in 1938 as the eldest daughter of the later Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard. Following her mother’s abdication, she ascended the Dutch throne on 30 April 1980. During her 33-year reign, she carried out the constitutional duties of head of state. In the parliamentary monarchy of the Netherlands, the ministers bear political responsibility; among other things, the monarch signed laws and regularly received the prime minister.

On 28 January 2013, Beatrix announced that she would abdicate in favour of her eldest son. The transfer of office took place on 30 April 2013 in Amsterdam. With the signing of the deed of abdication, her reign ended and Willem-Alexander became King. He was then formally sworn in and inaugurated at the Nieuwe Kerk. This was not a coronation, as Dutch monarchs are not crowned. Following the change of throne, Beatrix once again held the title Princess of the Netherlands.

Voluntary abdications have a long tradition in the Dutch royal house. Wilhelmina had already transferred the throne to Juliana in 1948, who in turn abdicated in favour of Beatrix in 1980. The change in 2013 was therefore not the result of a state crisis, but a regulated transfer to the next generation. With Willem-Alexander, a man stood at the head of the Dutch royal house for the first time since the death of Willem III in 1890.

The national farewell event for Beatrix did not take place until several months after the change of throne. It was held on 1 February 2014 at the Ahoy events complex in Rotterdam under the guiding theme “Beatrix met hart en ziel”. The programme reflected her many years of service and her contacts with different sections of Dutch society.

The coin issue thus also linked the public farewell with the generational change in the royal house that had already taken place. The joint depiction of mother and son presented this transition as continuity within the Dutch monarchy.