Queen Máxima is welcoming fall with an unexpectedly sweet color combination. The Dutch royal stepped out in Amsterdam on September 17, pairing rich chocolate brown with powder pink for a working visit that also revealed one of her surprisingly relatable shopping habits.
The Queen visited HEMA as the iconic Dutch retailer celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Founded in 1926 as the Hollandsche Eenheidsprijzen Maatschappij Amsterdam, the company has become a familiar presence in everyday life in the Netherlands.
© NL BeeldFor the occasion, Máxima traded ceremonial dressing for a polished yet relaxed ensemble centered around a sleeveless chocolate-brown top. The structured piece featured a fitted waist and subtle peplum silhouette, creating a sharp contrast with her voluminous blush-pink trousers.
The wide-leg pants brought movement and softness to the tailored top, while Máxima continued the pale pink palette with pointed-toe pumps and a neutral clutch. Her soft pink shoes were by Natan and featured an unusual rounded heel.
© NL BeeldShe kept her accessories refined but unmistakably Máxima, layering bracelets on one wrist and adding colorful statement earrings. Her blonde hair was worn loose and swept to the side, completing the sophisticated daytime look.
The brown-and-pink combination also happened to coordinate remarkably well with some of the products Máxima encountered during her visit. According to local reports, the coincidence was even pointed out during her tour, prompting a laugh from the Queen.
© NL BeeldFashion wasn't the only relatable moment of the visit. Máxima reportedly revealed that she is familiar with HEMA as a customer herself. According to Dutch media, the Queen said she still shops at the retailer, although she used to visit more frequently.
Her official visit went considerably further behind the scenes. Máxima toured HEMA's design studio, where she learned about the process used to design and develop the company's practical and accessible products.
© NL BeeldShe also visited a store and spoke with employees about their work and interactions with customers. The Queen later met with members of HEMA's management team to discuss entrepreneurship and the company's development in recent years.
According to the Dutch Royal House, the visit focused on HEMA's evolution and its efforts to invest in its product range, stores, employees and organization as the company looks toward its next century.
© NL BeeldThe engagement came just two days after Prinsjesdag, where Máxima joined King Willem-Alexander and their three daughters, Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane, for one of the Dutch royal calendar's most formal annual occasions.
Her Amsterdam appearance offered a dramatically different fashion moment, swapping royal ceremony for wide-leg trousers, low heels, and a sophisticated fall color combination perfectly suited to a day at one of the Netherlands' most recognizable stores.
