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A new monarch for the Netherlands

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The Netherlands will have a new monarch from today. 46-year-old Willem Alexander is set to be crowned King of the Netherlands at a ceremony in Amsterdam. He takes over from his mother, Queen Beatrix, who has been head of state since 30 April, 1980. The future King, the first Dutch king in more than a century, will have a limited role in politics. RFI spoke to Henk Dekker, a Dutch political scientist, about the Dutch monarchy's changing role in society and government. 

Princess Beatrix of Netherlands with her son, King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam 30 April, 2013
Princess Beatrix of Netherlands with her son, King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam 30 April, 2013 Reuters/Paul Vreeker
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