Prince Claus and Queen Beatrix

On 30 April 1980, at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, Queen Juliana abdicated in favour of her daughter Princess Beatrix, who became Queen of the Netherlands.

After the investiture, Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus visited the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. They took a great interest in important events in the Netherlands and kept themselves fully informed of socioeconomic developments and the concerns of the Dutch people.

During his working visits, Prince Claus devoted particular attention to technological innovation and music. He was also interested in the preservation of historic buildings, nature conservation, the environment and urban and regional planning. He frequently visited public utility organisations, commercial and industrial enterprises, and companies in the agriculture and fisheries sector.