THE HAGUE - On the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander emphasized the importance of unity and mutual bonds within the Kingdom. Speaking on Kingdom Day, the King called for a celebration of freedom and solidarity among the Kingdom’s members.
Sunday, December 15, marks Kingdom Day, a celebration of the connection between the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This year holds special significance, as it commemorates 70 years since Queen Juliana signed the Charter in 1954.
Referring to the milestone, King Willem-Alexander described the Charter as “the foundation of our Kingdom ties,” adding, “This is a day to celebrate that we are united in freedom!” His message was published on the official website of the Dutch royal family.
A Historic Document
On December 15, 1954, Queen Juliana signed the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Hall of Knights in The Hague. The document formalized new relationships between the Netherlands and its former colonies, Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles, marking a major step in the process of decolonization.
Over the years, the composition of the Kingdom evolved. Suriname gained independence in 1975, and the constitutional reforms of 2010 reshaped the Kingdom into its current form: the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.
The Charter defines these four nations as autonomous partners within the Kingdom, each with its own government and jurisdiction. However, they remain united in areas such as defense, foreign affairs, and the protection of human rights.