Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is game for anything. And this time, she’s following her daughter Amalia’s lead, not the other way around. The Dutch Queen is set to become a reservist, meaning she will serve as a part-time soldier and complete a short military training programme that includes both theoretical and physical instruction. Among other skills, she will learn how to shoot and how to read maps.
This military training is no small matter. Reservists can be deployed alongside professional soldiers during emergency relief operations in the event of floods or other natural disasters. In the case of a larger conflict, they may also take on the roles of regular troops.
Beyond the practical support her enlistment will provide to the armed forces, Máxima’s new challenge as a reservist carries particular significance for the military. It offers invaluable, positive publicity for the Ministry of Defence.
When Princess Amalia joined the Army and graduated as a corporal just a few weeks ago, applications skyrocketed in a striking knock-on effect.
Following the announcement that Queen Máxima will become a reservist, the government expects another wave of applications, especially from a specific age group. The Queen also subtly underscores the fact that more mature candidates can join the Army up to the age of 55 (Máxima herself is 54).
This will not be the first time we see Máxima of the Netherlands in uniform. She has previously visited the Ministry of Defence’s Clothing and Personal Equipment Company in Soesterberg, where reservists receive their kit, as well as making numerous visits to military units in recent years.
Last year, she took part in a Royal Air Force exercise. In 2024, she visited the Engineer Regiment wearing a full dress uniform. In 2023, she joined a helicopter training exercise focused on extinguishing forest fires.
The Dutch Royal Family has long been closely linked to the armed forces. King Willem-Alexander also served in the military, completing his service with the Royal Navy, the Royal Netherlands Army, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
Queen Máxima's recent health update:
Most recently, Queen Máxima was forced to scale back her schedule after falling ill shortly after returning from an official trip to New York. The Queen, who had spent two days in the city attending high-level meetings in her role as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, is now resting at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague after being diagnosed with the flu.
Fortunately, the Queen’s withdrawal is expected to be temporary.