Dutch Queen Beatrix announces abdication

Diederik Samsom, leader of the Labor Party, reacted in the same way.

"We appreciate the way in which Queen Beatrix has fulfilled her arduous task as head of state," he said. "She has manifested herself as a committed queen. Also we appreciate her binding role in Dutch society."

Dutch Queen Beatrix (R), her son Prince Willem-Alexander (C) and his wife Princess Maxima are seen waving to well-wishers from the balcony of the Royal Palace Noordeinde, after the Queen officially opened the new parliamentary year for 2013, at The Hague on this Sept 18, 2012 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

Beatrix is the eldest daughter of late Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. In 1966, Beatrix married Prince Claus van Amsberg from Germany, with whom she has three children: Prince Willem-Alexander (1967), Prince Friso (1968) and Prince Constantijn (1969).

Beatrix's marriage caused a massive protest in Amsterdam, because her German husband was associated by a part of the Dutch population with German Nazism. Beatrix's husband died in 2002.

Beatrix was crowned Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on April 30, 1980, as successor of her mother Juliana.

During the investiture, some people used the occasion to protest against poor housing conditions in the country and against the monarchy in general. The rioters clashed violently with the police.

On April 30, 2009, a Dutch man driving a car deliberately rammed into a crowd watching a royal parade in Apeldoorn, where the royal family were celebrating the Queen's Day with the public. The car missed the royal coach by 15 meters but five people were killed and 12 others were injured.

The traditional Dutch Queen's Day will not longer be celebrated on April 30, the birthday of Juliana. Instead, from 2014 on, the King's Day will be celebrated on April 27, the birthday of Willem-Alexander, said the Government Information Service (RVD).

Prince Friso was buried under an avalanche in Lech, Austria, while skiing in February 2012 and has been in a coma since then. He is currently treated in a hospital in London.