On the afternoon of July 9, 2013, Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrived in Den Haag to meet with several volunteers who maintain the “…city garden…” known as Emma’s Hof.
The garden serves as an “…open air community center run by over 100 volunteers. Emma’s Hof is a quiet neighborhood meeting place for adults as well as an area where children can play in a safe and natural environment.”
Photo courtesy of HKH/RVD
This afternoon the Dutch royal court announced that His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso of Oranje-Nassau has been transferred from Wellington Hospital in London to Paleis Huis ten Bosch in Den Haag, Netherlands, where “…a medical team, led by Prof. Jan van Gijn and Dr. Michael Kuiper, will be entrusted with his care.”
As you may know by now, Prince Johan Friso was struck by an avalanche on Friday, February, 17, 2012, in Lech, Austria. The second son of Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands and the late Prince Claus was buried alive for — what has now been confirmed — 25 minutes. The search and rescue team who found Prince Johan Friso tried desperately for 50 minutes to resuscitate the prince. They succeeded. However, because Prince Johan Friso lacked oxygen for 25 minutes he suffered serious brain damage. Today, Prince Johan Friso “…remains in a state of minimal consciousness…” according to RVD.
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Photo courtesy of HKH/RVD
On July 9, 2013, Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrived at the Universiteit van Leiden to meet with members as well as volunteers from the Stichting Best Buddies Nederland.
According to RVD, the purpose of Stichting Best Buddies Nederland is to match young people with intellectual disabilities with those who do not have such challenges in order to “…promote social inclusion and to encourage active citizenship.”
Photo courtesy of HKH/RVD
On Monday, July 8, 2013, Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands visited the Joodse Gemeente Amsterdam (Jewish Congregation of Amsterdam).
According to RVD, Their Majesties were given a tour of the Jacob Obrechtplein synagogue where they met with various “…representatives from several Jewish organizations as well as with students and teachers from Jewish schools…”
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Photo courtesy of HKH/RVD
On July 5, 2013, Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrived in the neighborhood of Leidsche Rijn just west of the city of Utrecht to officially open the new Maximapark. According to RVD, the park includes a “…restaurant, a forest playground, and a paved path for walkers, cyclists, and skaters.”
On Monday, July 1, 2013, Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrived in Oosterpark in the city of Amsterdam to attend the Nationale Herdenking Slavernijverleden (National Slavery Memorial) service.
During today’s service Their Majesties and guests listened to various speeches, poems, and witnessed the placing of a wreath in “…memory of those who have suffered the transatlantic slavery. It draws attention to the Dutch slavery and its legacy in the present” according to RVD.
July 1, 2013, marks the 150th anniversary since the abolition of slavery in the Dutch colonies.
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Photo courtesy of HKH/RVD
On Saturday, June 29, 2013, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands accompanied by Dutch Prime Minister, Mr. Mark Rutte, arrived in Den Haag to celebrate Nederlandse Veteranendag (Dutch Veterans Day).
According to RVD, Veteranendag was:
“…established by the government and is organized by the Comité Nederlandse Veteranendag with the support of the Ministerie van Defensie (Ministry of Defense). It is a tribute to the more than 130,000 Dutch veterans from World War II to the mission in Afghanistan who have worked in the service of peace.”
Please click here to watch a video news report from NOS.
Photo courtesy of HKH/RVD
The Royal Correspondent 