Editing Beatrix of the Netherlands (section)

== Abdication ==
[[File:King Willem-Alexander, Princess Beatrix and Queen Maxima.jpg|thumb|Princess Beatrix, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima waving to crowds during the balcony appearance following her abdication]]
In a broadcast on national media on 28 January 2013, Beatrix announced her intention to abdicate on 30 April ([[Koninginnedag]]), when she would have been on the throne for exactly 33 years. Beatrix stated that it was time to "place the responsibility for the country in the hands of a new generation."<ref name="AlJ-abdicate1">{{cite web | url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/01/20131281999888740.html | title=Dutch Queen to abdicate in April for son | publisher=Al Jazeera | date=28 January 2013 | access-date=28 January 2013}}</ref> Her [[heir apparent]] was her eldest son, Prince Willem-Alexander.<ref name="BBCabdicate1" /> She was the third successive Dutch monarch to abdicate, following her grandmother and her mother.<ref name="BBCabdicate1">{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21237254 | title=Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands to abdicate for son | work=BBC | date=28 January 2013 | access-date=28 January 2013}}</ref> The broadcast was followed by a statement from Prime Minister [[Mark Rutte]] who paid tribute to Beatrix, saying "Since her [[investiture]] in 1980, she has applied herself heart and soul to Dutch society."<ref name="AlJ-abdicate1" />

The royal transition, which included the [[inauguration of Willem-Alexander]] as king, took place on 30 April 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Time and place of abdication and investiture, 28 January 2013|url=http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/globale-paginas/taalrubrieken/english/news/|publisher=Royal Dutch House}}</ref>