On February 12, 2014, Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands arrived at the Universiteit Leiden to attend the opening of the International Conference on Chinese Buddhism and the Erik Zürcher Scholarship.

Researchers from around the world participated in today’s opening session in which discussions focused on “…the work of the late Sinologist, Professor Zürcher, and current research on Chinese Buddhism.  The conference was organized on the occasion of the publication of the book, Buddhism in China: Collected Papers, by the late Professor Zürcher.”

Please click here and here to view photos.

Photo courtesy of RVD/HKH

On Tuesday, February 4, 2014, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands arrived at the Kunsthal Museum in Rotterdam to attend the opening of the exhibition, De Tweede Wereldoorlog in 100 Voorwerpen (The Second World War in 100 Objects).

According to the official website for the Kunsthal Museum the exhibition displays:

“…a hundred of the most exceptional objects from 25 war and resistance museums in the Netherlands [which were] brought together and exhibited at the Kunsthal Rotterdam.

[The] exhibition takes visitors back to the days of the Second World War giving it relevance for young and old alike. The numerous events behind each of these objects evoke personal memories, emotions, abhorrence and sentiments stemming from the war years between 1940 and 1945.”

De Tweede Wereldoorlog in 100 Voorwerpen will be open to the public on February 5 – May 5, 2014.  If you are interested in learning more about this special exhibition please click here.

Click here to watch a video news report.

Click here to view photos.

Photo courtesy of RVD/HKH

On the morning of February 4, 2014, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands visited the Stichting SchuldHulpMaatje (Debt Relief Buddy Foundation) in Midden-Delfland.

Created in 2010, Stichting SchuldHulpMaatje is a “…national network of local volunteer organizations that helps people in financial trouble…” according to RVD.

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Photo courtesy of RVD/HKH

On Friday, January 31, 2014, Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attended the 5th Symposium of Qredits Microfinance Netherlands held at the Auditorium van Rabobank Nederland in Utrecht.

According to RVD, Qredits is a: 

“…rural credit organization which helps new and existing entrepreneurs successfully re-start their business. Qredits does this by offering microloans up to 150,000 Euros SME lending, business tools and personal coaching. The goal is to stimulate entrepreneurship in the Netherlands…”

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Photo courtesy of RVD/HKH

On Thursday, January 30, 2014, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands attended the 10th anniversary celebrations of MVO Netherlands, “…the national knowledge and network organization for corporate social responsibility…” in Utrecht.  His Majesty also held an audience at Palais Noordenide with the Secretary-General of NATO, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen. 

And, finally, yesterday, His Majesty attended the opening of the headquarters of the network operator, Enexis, in Den Bosch.

Click here to watch a video.

Photo courtesy of RVD/HKH