On This Day: Willem-Alexander & Máxima Marry in Amsterdam

Fifteen years ago, the heir to the Dutch throne – Prince Willem-Alexander – married Argentine Máxima Zorreguieta in civil and religious ceremonies in Amsterdam. The couple are now King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.

After announcing their engagement on March 30, 2001, the couple married on February 2, 2002 – the date chosen because of the once-in-a-century ’02-02-02′. The civil ceremony took place at the Beurs van Berlage and was conducted by the Mayor of Amsterdam. This was followed by the religious ceremony at the Nieuwe Kerk on Amsterdam’s Dam Square. Carel ter Linden led the service, which had over 1,500 guests, including royals from across Europe. When the couple finished saying their vows, a loud cheer from the crowds outside could be heard inside the Kerk – leading the Minister to say the wedding was blessed “by God, his town and the city” which got a chuckle out of the guests.

The religious ceremony provided the most poignant moment of the wedding, when the bride sat with tears slowly falling as she and the congregation listened to Adios Nonino, a tribute to her Argentine homeland. The moment was made all the more emotional as Máxima’s parents, Jorge and Carmen Zorreguita, did not attend the wedding on the request of the Dutch Government, following revelations Mr Zorreguita had been a cabinet minister during Argentina’s Videla regime in the 1970s.

After they were pronounced husband and wife, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima then travelled to the Royal Palace of Amsterdam in the Golden Coach. They were cheered through the streets of the capital, escorted by a procession of cavalry. Once they reached the Palace, the newlyweds appeared on the Palace balcony decorated with white flowers matching the bride’s bouquet to greet the public.

A reception at the Royal Palace took place in the evening, and the newlyweds cut their wedding cake with the groom’s ceremonial sword. The-then Queen Beatrix is reported to have left the Palace in the early hours of the morning, telling everyone everything was ‘fantastic’.

Princess Máxima wore a Mikado silk wedding gown designed by Valentino, with a cowl neck and three-quarter length sleeves. The five metre train featured lace panelling, and was complemented by the silk veil hand-embroidered with flowers and tendrils, anchored in place by the ‘Star Tiara’ – the base of the Pearl Button Tiara, topped with diamond stars belonging to Queen Emma. The Prince of Orange wore the uniform of a Dutch naval captain, alongside the orders of the Order of the Netherlands Lion and the Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau.

The bride was supported by four bridesmaids – Ms Valeria Delger, Ms Juliana Guillermo, Theresa, Baroness von der Recke and Ms Inés Zorreguieta – and four pageboys and two flowergirls – Jonkheer Paulo Alting von Geusau, Johann-Casper Freiherr von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen, Alexandre Friling, Floris ter Haar, Countess Leonie zu Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems and Princess Pauline zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein. The bridal party wore matching red and white velvet outfits.

Click here to read more about the couple’s wedding.

NB: A version of this post was previously published on February 2, 2012.

Filed under The Netherlands
Tagged King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, Wedding Anniversary.

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