On Wednesday, July 6, 2022, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands visited the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) in Wageningen.

The day began with a meeting with the President of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Ms. Marileen Dogterom, and with the Director of the NIOO, Mr. Geert de Snoo as well as with Aquatic Ecology researcher, Ms. Liesbeth Bakker, and Terrestrial Ecology Researcher, Mr. Wim van der Putten. During the meeting, discussions focused on the NIOO’s three major research themes: biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable use of land and water.

Thereafter, according to an NIOO press release, His Majesty was given a tour of the NIOO research facility:

“…starting with a ‘remote’ water quality measurement led by Mr. Dedmer van de Waal. Mr. Van de Waal has been keeping a ‘lake report’ about the quality of the bathing water for some time now. This is due to the increasing nuisance caused by blue-green algae.”

From there, His Majesty visited the new Calibration Center for Soil, which “…provides insight into what makes a soil good soil and provides advice for sustainable soil improvements.”

The day ended with another roundtable discussion on the interfaces between ecological research and public health, the associated challenges, and a happy group photo.

That’s it.

Photos courtesy of the Netherlands Institute for Ecology NIOO-KNAW