After a year with a very intense schedule that took them to different places inside and outside the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima spent the holidays privately with their three daughters, Princesses Amalia, Alexia, and Ariane. Aside from the speech the monarch delivered on December 25, in which he spoke about new generations and his own experience as a father, they had no official engagements. Although they kept their plans to ring in 2025 under wraps, it later emerged that they followed the same route as in previous Christmases and enjoyed a few days in Argentina, the Queen’s home country, where many of her relatives and friends live.
The royal family’s trip to Argentina for the holidays
TThe Royal Family exchanged the freezing temperatures of the Netherlands for the summer weather in Argentina. According to local media, they landed in the South American country around 2 p.m. on Friday, December 26. Arriving from the city of El Calafate, the King and Queen and their three daughters flew by private jet to Teniente Luis Candelaria International Airport and from there traveled to Bariloche, where they have owned a home since 2009.
Inside the royal family’s home in Bariloche
The house, named Pilpilcurá and renovated in 2018, features five bedrooms, large windows, and wood accents throughout. The house is surrounded by 3,000 hectares of natural landscape and offers plenty of outdoor activities, including horseback riding, which is a favorite pastime of both Queen Máxima and Princess Amalia.
A family reunion in Patagonia
“The visit had an intimate, family feel,” sources have said. WWaiting for the family at the Patagonian property was María del Carmen Cerruti, who is Queen Máxima’s mother. The two were together last May in Seville during the traditional April Fair, where she met King Willem-Alexander 26 years ago. It remains unclear whether other relatives joined the reunion in the final days of the year, including the Queen’s maternal brothers, Martín and Juan, or her paternal sisters, Dolores and María. Despite the family’s discretion, the royal visit sparked strong interest among locals and tourists in the area during the peak summer.
How the royal family celebrated New Year’s Eve in Argentina
On New Year’s Eve, Argentine tradition centers on a dinner of grilled meat, potato salad, stuffed tomatoes, and pan dulce, similar to panettone. FFireworks usually mark the arrival of the new year, and family gatherings often continue late into the night. The family likely combined these customs with Dutch traditions, such as eating oliebollen, raisin fritters believed to bring good luck, and setting off fireworks to ward off evil spirits.
The royal family’s agenda after the Christmas holidays
IIt is not known whether the Royal Family has already left Argentina; however, it is certain that Queen Máxima will resume her official duties on January 14. Her first engagement of 2026 will be the opening of the 40th edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag, which is an independent platform that promotes European music talent worldwide. King Willem-Alexander’s next scheduled appearance will take place on January 27, when he inaugurates the Circte plant for recycling tires, where used tires are transformed into new products.
Princess Amalia is pursuing her second degree, a bachelor’s in Dutch Law, at the University of Amsterdam, while also undergoing military training at Defensity College. Princess Alexia, who previously studied alongside Spain’s Princess Leonor, is returning to the United Kingdom to continue her degree in Civil Engineering at University College London. Princess Ariane is currently taking a gap year to decide on her academic path for the upcoming school year.