Juliana, the people's Queen of the Netherlands who helped the country and its citizens recover from World War Two and oversaw the independence of the remaining colonies, has died at the age of 94.
The state information service said she died of a lung infection at 5.50 a.m. in the Soestdijk palace where she had lived most of her life.
Three of her four daughters, including Queen Beatrix, were present when she died and the fourth arrived shortly afterwards from the United States. Crown-prince Willem Alexander is returning from holidays in Austria.
Dutch prime minister Mr Jan Peter Balkenende said Juliana, who reigned for 32 years from 1948, had been a queen "for the people and not for the directors" and had said she would have wanted to be a social worker if she had not become queen.
"Together with Prince Bernhard, she worked for the reconstruction of our country after World War Two. Supported by her religion, she was an indefatigable campaigner for solidarity, community spirit and human dignity," he said.
Juliana was much loved in the Netherlands. It is her birthday, on April 30, that is still celebrated as the Dutch Queen's Day holiday.