On Christmas Day 2024, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands delivered his annual Christmas message, addressing pressing societal tensions and advocating for unity within the nation. Speaking from the Witte Eetzaal at Paleis Huis ten Bosch, his address was infused with both empathy and urgency.
The king opened his speech with the powerful words from the Bible, stating, "Wees niet bang, want ik kom jullie goed nieuws brengen dat grote vreugde betekent voor heel het volk" ("Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy for all the people"), laying the groundwork for his message centered around inclusivity and hope.
Throughout his address, King Willem-Alexander touched upon the observable fractures within society, both domestically and internationally. He noted, "Veel mensen voelen zich onbegrepen, ongewenst, onbeschermd" ("Many people feel misunderstood, unwanted, unprotected"), poignantly underscoring the emotional climate affecting his citizens.
The king directed heartfelt messages to both Jewish and Muslim communities within the Netherlands, saying, "Tegen Joodse Nederlanders die me vertellen dat ze twijfelen aan hun toekomst hier zeg ik: blijf! Wij horen samen" ("To Jewish Dutch people who tell me they are unsure of their future here, I say: stay! We belong together"). He similarly reached out to the Muslim community, stating, "Tegen Nederlandse moslims zeg ik: dit is ook uw land; dit is ook jouw land" ("To Dutch Muslims, I say: this is also your land; this is also your land"). These statements aimed to reinforce feelings of belonging and security among all Dutch citizens.
Reflecting on personal encounters, King Willem-Alexander recounted discussions with students from the Maimonides Jewish school. He revealed how these students expressed discomfort and fear due to the heightened security measures at their school, saying, "Hoe ze zich op straat en in de tram maar liever gedeisd houden" ("How they prefer to keep to themselves on the street and tram"). This anecdote illustrated the tangible impacts of societal tensions on daily life.
He also acknowledged the narratives shared by Palestinian Nederlanders, emphasizing the pain and helplessness they experience. "Telkens weer word ik geraakt door de persoonlijke pijn die in de verhalen doorklinkt" ("I am repeatedly touched by the personal pain reflected in these stories"), he reflected, demonstrating his deep empathetic connection to their struggles.
Throughout his address, the king called for resilience against the downward spiral of negativity. He stressed, "Wat we wél kunnen doen, is zorgen dat we de verbittering en haat niet importeren in onze straten" ("What we can do is make sure we do not import bitterness and hate onto our streets"). This statement served as both a caution and rallying call to action among his listeners.
Reaffirming the principles of the Dutch constitution, he declared, "Discriminatie is niet toegestaan. En we gebruiken géén geweld, ook niet als we ons gekwetst of miskend voelen" ("Discrimination is not permitted. And we do not use violence, even if we feel hurt or disrespected"). With these words, King Willem-Alexander reminded his audience of the legal framework of respect and equality governing the Netherlands.
Concluding his message, the king echoed the sentiment of unity and empathy with the quote from apostle Paul, "Wees blij met wie zich verblijdt. Heb verdriet met wie verdriet heeft" ("Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn"). He remarked, "Als we dit ter harte nemen, brengen we een mooiere wereld een heel klein beetje dichterbij" ("If we take this to heart, we bring the world closer to being more beautiful").
King Willem-Alexander’s 2024 Christmas address was not just a reflection of the year gone by but also served as a call to all Dutch citizens to look beyond their differences, to acknowledge shared humanity, and work together to forge paths of peace and compassion. The speech can be seen as part of the tradition of leadership aimed at binding the nation together during the holiday season, reminding everyone, irrespective of their backgrounds, of their collective worth and strength as part of one community.
