Almost half of Dutch people believe the monarchy costs too much, with criticism highest among the young, according to the annual NOS King’s Day survey. Confidence in king Willem-Alexander has gradually recovered since the pandemic, but cost remains the strongest area of criticism.
Of 1,000 people polled by Ipsos I&O, 49% said the royal house is too expensive, rising to close to 60% among under-34s. The royal budget has risen to over €60 million this year (excluding tax exemptions). Criticism of crown princess Amalia’s use of the €1.6 million expenses portion of her annual allowance has grown – 26% disapprove, up from 21% in 2025, with the strongest objections again among the young.
Confidence in the king now stands at 54%, while satisfaction with how he performs his role has risen from 47% to 53%.
Six in ten say they prefer the monarchy to a republic with an elected president, unchanged from last year. Almost 60% back queen Máxima’s recent enrolment as an army reservist and Amalia’s place at the defence ministry’s Defensity College student programme, with defence already talking about an “Amalia effect” on enrolment interest.
Skewed results?
Anti-monarchy group Republiek commissioned its own Ipsos I&O poll late last year that showed slightly different results. It put support for the royal house at 58%, down from 62% around last King’s Day, with under-34s splitting evenly at 49%.
Republiek chairman Floris Müller said the timing of the NOS poll, weeks before King’s Day, skews the picture. “A single survey, weeks before King’s Day, can give a rather distorted picture of the actual support ”, he said. “With orange decorations in your hand, you judge differently”. The group is pushing for a second annual poll in August, before parliament debates the royal-house budget at Prinsjesdag.
Müller also argues the official €60 million figure understates the true cost, because royal exemptions on income and inheritance tax are not counted in.
A Leeuwarden court on Sunday banned Republiek’s 10-metre inflatable dinosaur mascot from the King’s Day royal route in Dokkum on safety grounds.
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