Queen Maxima of the Netherlands Becomes Army Reservist

The Netherlands’ Queen Maxima has recently joined her nation’s military as a reservist, citing concerns about national security. At 54 years old, she has taken this step because, as the Dutch royal family noted, “our safety can no longer be taken for granted,” and she wants to play a part in ensuring security.

Having completed training with the Royal Netherlands Army, Queen Maxima will be elevated to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. As a reservist, she will be deployed wherever there is a need, similar to her peers in the reserves. Her training commenced on February 4, 2025, at the Royal Military Academy located in Breda.

The royal family stated, “She will deploy where needed,” emphasizing the queen’s commitment to her new role.

Imagery provided by the Netherlands Ministry of Defense captures Queen Maxima engaging in “Mental Skills” training at the academy in Breda. She is depicted in various activities, including honing her handgun skills. A video accompanied these images, featuring energetic rock-dance music and showing Maxima in army attire, joyfully participating in activities like pool diving and rock climbing.

Queen Maxima is not pioneering this path within European royals, as many have served in their countries’ armed forces. Her daughter, Princess Catharina-Amalia, has completed military training and attained the rank of corporal. Similarly, Norway’s Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Spain’s Princess Leonor have engaged in military service, with the latter training across Army, Navy, and Air Force divisions.

The Netherlands is taking these steps amid growing concerns about Europe’s security situation. Russia’s incursion into Ukraine and questions regarding the U.S.’ steadfastness as a NATO ally have intensified these worries.

European Defense and Conscription

There is a noticeable shift within Europe regarding military self-reliance. Former U.S. President Donald Trump urged European nations to increase defense budgets and minimize their reliance on U.S.-based NATO forces. These tensions have led the European Union’s Defense Commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, to advocate for a unified European military force, separate from NATO. He proposed a potential 100,000-strong force, emphasizing the need for Europe to operate collectively rather than as separate entities.

Conscription is experiencing renewed attention, with multiple European nations employing various forms of compulsory service. As of now, nine European NATO countries implement conscription, including Denmark, Estonia, and Greece. Additionally, Croatia is reintroducing mandatory military service, and other countries, such as France and Germany, are exploring programs to encourage military participation among the youth.

The newly established coalition government of the Netherlands is advocating for young citizens to partake in a mandatory military service survey, stating that failure to achieve desired results might lead them to consider other measures, including selective compulsory service.