(AMSTERDAM) — Willem-Alexander became the first Dutch king in more than a century Tuesday as his mother, Beatrix, abdicated after 33 years as queen. The generational change in the House of Orange-Nassau gave the Netherlands a moment of celebration, pageantry and brief respite as this trading nation of nearly 17 million struggles through a lengthy recession brought on by the European economic crisis. Visibly emotional, the much-loved Beatrix ended her reign in a nationally televised signing ceremony as thousands of orange-clad people cheered outside. Millions more were expected to watch on television. King Willem-Alexander gripped his mother's hand and looked briefly into her eyes after they both signed the abdication document in the Royal Palace on downtown Amsterdam's Dam Square. Beatrix looked close to tears as she then appeared on a balcony overlooking some 20,000 of her subjects. "I am happy and grateful to introduce to you your new king, Willem-Alexander," she told the cheering crowd, which chanted: "Bea bedankt" ("Thanks Bea.") Moments later, in a striking symbol of the generational shift, she left the balcony and King Willem-Alexander, his wife and three daughters — the children in matching yellow dresses and headbands — waved to the crowd. "Dear mother, today you relinquished the throne. 33 years moving and inspiring years. We are intensely, intensely grateful to you," the new king said. The former queen becomes Princess Beatrix and her son becomes the first Dutch king since Willem III died in 1890. (MORE: As the Dutch Crown a New King, Europe's Monarchies Prove Their Staying Power) The 46-year-old king's popular Argentine-born wife became Queen Maxima and their eldest of three daughters, Catharina-Amalia, who attended the ceremony wearing a yellow dress, became Princess of Orange and first in line to the throne. Els Nederstigt, 38, said she got up at 5:30 a.m. to travel to Amsterdam and sat on a camping stool close to the Royal Palace wearing an orange cowboy hat and tiara. "It's a special moment. I was a very small girl when Beatrix came to the throne so(http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=world.time.com&blog=19871253&post=84409&subd=timeglobalspin&ref=&feed=1)
Via: TIME GlobalSpin