Prince Willem-Alexander of Netherlands leaves the Palace Eikenhorst in Wassenaar, on January 28, 2013. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands announced on January 28, 2013 that she would abdicate in favour of her son Crown Prince Willem Alexander at the end of April, after 33 years in power. The queen, who is to turn 75 on Thursday, told national television that her birthday and the 200-year anniversary of the monarchy in 2013 "were the reason for me to step down." netherlands out - belgium out