On October 10, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands was in Wilhelmina Quay in Rotterdam to baptize a new pilot vessel named, Polaris.

According to RVD:

“The ship, commissioned by Dutch Pilotage, is the first in a series of three new pilot vessels to replace existing vessels. These so-called “craft station” are used for piloting ships and from the ports of Rotterdam and the Dutch and Flemish ports on the Scheldt.  

… the ‘Polaris’ with its  long, sharp and narrow hull shape, ensures that this new pilot vessel can endure heavy weather at sea and can stay out longer. The ship is designed for whimsical wave pattern of the North Sea…”

On October 4, 2012, Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands attended the opening of Imagining Europe in Amsterdam.  This four-day event was organized by the European Cultural Foundation (ECF).

On October 4, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands attended the Annual Conference of the Royal Dutch Society for Veterinary Medicine (KNMvD) in Nieuwegein.

According to RVD:

“Her Majesty attended a lecture by Professor Herman Wijeffels, Professor of Sustainability and Social Change, sustainable care for humans and animals as well as listed to a speech by Professor Ludo Hellebrekers, chairman of the KNMvD.”

To learn more about the Royal Dutch Society for Veterinary Medicine please visit their official website here.

On October 3, 2012, Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands attended the launch of the project entitled, De Tafel van Eén, in Alkmaar.

According to RVD:

“De Tafel van Eén is an initiative of woman platform WOMEN Inc. commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in cooperation with the municipalities and civil society organizations.

WOMEN Inc.. project is aimed at a national approach to economic independence increase of over one million women with limited education, without work.

The idea is that women meet five mornings, accompanied by a table buddy, to talk about themselves and their future. Thanks to a special interview method inspire and motivate the women together. The princess spoke with the Alkmaar participants about their expectations and previous participants from the ten municipalities in the country about their next steps.

WOMEN Inc.. is an independent platform that connects women and promotes individual development. It brings together women of different ages, cultures and disciplines at national and international level.”

Please click here to view photos.

On Wednesday, October 3, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands was in Alkmaar to attend the presentation of a new retinal camera to the Medical Center Alkmaar (MCA).

The Oogfonds Organization (a national fundraiser in the field of blindness, visual impairment and eye disease) purchased the retinal camera/RETcam and donated it to the MCA.  Her Majesty is patron of the Oogfonds.

On October 2, 2012, Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands was in Gasselternijveen to visit the “… residents association Hoofdstraat-Noord.”

According to RVD:

“This neighborhood association organizes various social activities around a historic pear row of trees in the street. Since 1990 the pear trees were maintained by the neighborhood, and act as a binding social event where the residents pick and harvest the pears together.  The residents also organize an annual brunch after the harvest…”

Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands attended the opening of the new exhibition entitled, Point de Vue, 200 jaar Kunstacademie’s-Hertogenbosch, held at the former Stedelijk Museum’s-Hertogenbosch on October 2, 2012.

According to RVD:

“The exhibition “Point de Vue” gives an idea of the work that students and teachers of the academy for the past 200 years have brought forth with a focus on visual arts. It is drawn from the collections of the three city museums, private collections and from the collection of artists or descendants.”