How to Become King - Jan Terlouw

Or: Koning van Katoren as the book is called in Dutch.

 

The King of Katoren dies without leaving an heir and a group of ministers seizes the power, being very reluctant to give it away to the new king, should he arise. Therefore, they set a set of seven nearly impossible (almost Herculean) works that need to be completed...

 

I really liked this story as a child. It's a real classic in The Netherlands and I think almost everyone has read it at some point. I cannot vouch for the English translation, since I haven't read it, but I would certainly recommend the Dutch version. It was one of my favorites.