Today’s event took place at the De Wiebert (a giant playground that also houses a community center). The purpose of the event is to “… bring together local residents so they have a chance to interact as well as to get know each other better…” Residents played games, listened to music, dined on delicious food, and much more.
Today’s inaugural conference, held on the occasion of the establishment of the Dutch branch of the University for Peace (UPEACE) in Den Haag, focused on education and research in three interdisciplinary areas: Peace and Conflict Studies, Water and Peace, and Urban Peace and Security. Keynote speakers during today’s event included the former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Ruud Lubbers, and the Minister of European Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Ben Knapen, to name a few.
On Thursday, September 20, 2012,Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlandsofficially opened the Vrouw Moeder Kind-Centrum (VMK Center) at the Maxima Medisch Centrum (Maxima Medical Center) in Veldhoven.
According to MedicalFacts.nl, the new center (rough translation):
“… has a new approach to the treatment of mother and child. Both are kept together after birth. The newborn child and mother are nursed together if medically possible. Both as a premature baby in high intensive care, as when the mother is ill or recovering from childbirth
Scientific studies show that it is better for the development of the child and the recovery of the mother after birth if both are close together. At the new VMK-center, everything is geared to patient.
‘The premise is that mother and child unit and therefore should be treated as a unit,” says Pediatrician-Neonatologist and and medical head of the center, Dr. Thilo Mohns. ‘Is it medically, then keep mother and child together 24 hours a day. Previously, the patient adapt to the rules of the hospital. Now it is determined by the patient. We have everything reversed. We see what is possible and let as many patients decide. For example, what time they want to get up, what they want to eat or when allowed to come visit. It is up to the patient.’ “
After the opening Princess Maxima met with various patients at the new center as well as mingled with hospital staff.
“… founded in 1999 as a branch of the University of Leiden and become a university institute in the center of Den Haag. The campus facilities include the Public Administration Studies, International Studies, Political Science and is the location where the Leiden University College Den Haag (Liberal Arts & Sciences: Global Challenges) is established. In addition, the campus provides education and training for professionals, such as the National Traineeship and Diplomats classroom.
The campus is working with organizations in Den Haag through debates and conferences and the deployment of politicians, civil servants, diplomats and entrepreneurs in education.
The new building has a Living Lab, a practice environment in which students, teachers and researchers to collaborate and build a network with international organizations, companies, research institutions and public authorities.”
On September 19, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands along with His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje held an audience with European Space Agency astronaut and Dutch physician, Mr. André Kuipers at the Paleis Huis ten Bosch.
Mr. Kuipers recently returned from space (July 1 to be exact) after spending 193 days at the International Space Station, the longest space journey by a European astronaut.
During today’s meeting Her Majesty and Prince Willem-Alexander also met with NASA astronaut, Mr. Don Pettit and Russian cosmonaut, Oleg Kononenko. The two men spent 193 days at the International Space Station with Mr. Kuipers.
The Royal Correspondent 