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King Willem-Alexander Puts Children’s Future at Heart of Christmas Address

He urges a gentler, community‑minded society that gives young people room to grow.

Overview

  • The monarch calls on Dutch society to be careful with what binds it, citing democracy, the rule of law, a healthy environment, freedom and mutual responsibility.
  • He warns against a punitive culture where mistakes are harshly judged and young people fear being assessed on appearance, background, sexual orientation or performance.
  • He criticizes social media dynamics, saying people risk becoming slavish followers of almighty algorithms without a soul.
  • He says resilience and self‑reliance matter but argues community care is the key and should be instilled from an early age.
  • In his thirteenth Christmas message, delivered in a notably personal, fatherly tone, he renews concern about intergenerational prospects and urges each generation to leave the world in better condition for the next.