Juliana's Birthday

Juliana's (Queen) Birthday

April 30

Juliana Louise Emma Marie Wilhelmina, born on this day in 1909, was queen of the Netherlands from 1948 until 1980, when she voluntarily abdicated in favor of her oldest daughter, Beatrix (b. 1938). Although she aroused controversy from time to time—especially by employing a faith healer in the 1950s and by letting two of her four daughters marry foreigners, she was a popular monarch whose birthday is still celebrated throughout the Netherlands with parades, fun fairs, and decorations honoring the queens of the House of Orange. Queen Juliana died on March 20, 2004, but her birthday remains a national holiday.

CONTACTS:
Netherlands Government Information Service
P.O. Box 20009
Hague, 2500 EA Netherlands
31-70-356-4000
www.netherlands.info/Introduction.html
Noordeinde Palace
P.O. Box 30412
Hague, 2500 GK Netherlands
31-70-356-4000; fax: 31-70 356 4683
www.koninklijkhuis.nl/english

SOURCES:
AnnivHol-2000, p. 71
NatlHolWrld-1968, p. 54

Celebration day: Apr 30