On January 19, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands met with Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his wife at the royal palace in Den Haag. Prior to his meeting with Her Majesty, Mr. Netanyahu visited the famous Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam as well as held talks with the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
On January 18, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands along with His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, Princess Margriet and Mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven attended a New Year’s reception for the Corps Diplomatique held at Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam (royal palace of Amsterdam).
On January 18, 2012, Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands was at the Windroos School in Amersfoort to read to the various youth as part of National Reading Month (or simply Breakfast Reading.) Anyway… the lovely princess read the book, Mama Kwijt, by Chris Haughton and by all accounts the youth seem interested.
To view photos please click the links below:
Photo courtesy of Het Koninklijk Huis
Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands visited the St. Joseph School in Alkmaar on January 17, 2012 to visit students who are apart to the program known as, Class!. This program, Class, is “…an initiative of the local music and arts center, Cool Art and Culture and it is part of the program Kids Making Music from the Orange Cultural Fund and the Fund.” As patron of “Kids Make Music”, a project launched last year, encourages students to play music. Today, the project offers thousands of students free music lessons from volunteer teachers.
To watch a video as well as to view photos please click here.
Source: RTVNH
It’s been awhile since we last saw the program, Blauw Bloed. Well, the program is back and in this week’s episode host Jeroen Snel covers the recent state visit to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Oman.
Click the video icon below where it says Oranjes in Het Midden-Oosten.
By the way, for those who have never seen the show, Blauw Bloed, the program is in Dutch.
On the final day of their state visit to Oman, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands along with Their Royal Highnesses Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje and Princess Maxima visited the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat. Unfortunately, it seems that the Freedom Party (PVV) in the Netherlands are not exactly happy campers when they saw the images of Her Majesty in a headscarf (they became all pissy about it when she wore one the first time in Abu Dhabi). Click here to read more about the “row” from BBC News.
Any way…
After touring the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque the royal trio visited various Dutch expats living in Oman. Soon, it was time to leave the gulf nation. Her Majesty along with her Dutch business delegation were “…seen off at the Royal Airport by Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah al Khalili, Minister of Tourism and His Highness Sayyid Mohammed bin Harib al Said.”
To view photos from the royal family’s last day in Oman please click the links below:
Sources: NOS, Oman Observer and Oman Tribune
On January 11, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands along with Their Royal Highnesses Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands continued their three-day state visit to Oman.
The royal trio began their day with a visit to the port of Sohar where they were greeted by Shaikh Saad bin Mohammed a Saadi, Commerce and Industry Minister and Chairman of Sohar Industrial Port Company. Soon, the royal trio along with their delegation toured the Sohar Industrial Project Company. From there, they visited the Sohar Free Zone and then the Groasis Waterboxx facility, which is a “…joint project with Port of Sohar and the Netherlands…” Afterward, the royal trio visited the Maritime College. After meeting with the students Her Majesty along with the Prince and Princess left by helicopter to the famous Nakhal Fort.
Later in the evening the royal trio along with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said will attend a concert held at the Al Alam Palace.
To watch a video as well as to view photos please click the links below:
Sources: NOS, De Telegraaf, Oman Observer, and Times of Oman
The Royal Correspondent 