AMSTERDAM
Dutch King Willem-Alexander was took oath at Amsterdam's De Nieuwe Kerk Church in a ceremony attended by members of the Dutch senate and the parliament, high level Dutch dignitaries as well as by senior officials from around the world.
Dutch Queen Beatrix abdicated in his favor to end her 33-year reign and leave the throne to the eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander.
The crown prince became Europe's youngest and the first male monarch of the Netherlands in 123 years following the coronation ceremony.
The 75-year old queen signed an act of abdication at the royal palace earlier this morning in company of official representatives including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and presidents of the senate and the parliament.
Prince of Orange Willem-Alexander was crowned as "King" and his wife Princess Maxima as "queen" following the penning of the same document.
Beatrix said "our new king" and presented the new Dutch King from the balcony of the palace to the thousands gathered for the coronation ceremony.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, who was invited as a special guest of the royal family, his wife Zeynep Babacan and Turkey's Ambassador in the Hague Ugur Dogan were present at the ceremony.
