Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands was in Amsterdam on May 23, 2012, to attend the opening of the new location for the Appel Arts Centre (AAC).

Upon her arrival she was greeted by the Queen’s Commissioner of North Holland, Mr. Johan Remkes, Deputy Mayor, Carolien Gehrels, and staff from the AAC.

During her visit the princess was given a tour of the new building as well as a private tour of the new exhibition, Topsy Turvy, Leve de Omgekeerde Wereld.  

For more information about the Appel Arts Centre and the new exhibition, which ends on September 23, 2012, please visit their official website click here.

Click the links below to view photos.

• Gallery One
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Sources: RVD and deAppel.nl

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands was in Leeuwarden to official open the new Fryslân provincial house.

Upon her arrival, Her Majesty was greeted by hundreds of well-wishers, local dignitaries as well as a large choir of singers.  According to RVD, the provincial house “…comprises of new construction and partly restored buildings with large open spaces…”

Click the links below to view photos.

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Source: RVD

Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands was at the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in Den Haag to attend the oration of Professor Stella Quimbo to the Prince Claus Chair (PCC).

According to the official website for the PCC:

The curatorium of the Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development has appointed Stella Luz A. Quimbo from the Philippines as the new holder of the Prince Claus Chair 2011/2013. In her academic work, she focuses on Public Health, Health Economics and Development. Stella Quimbo will be based at ISS from May to July 2012. source

To learn more about the Prince Claus Chair for Development and Equity as well as about Professor Quimbo please click here.

Click here to view photos.

Sources: RVD/HKH and the Prince Claus Chair for Development and Equity

Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands was in Amersfoort to attend the inauguration of the CliniClowns College on May 16, 2012.

According to NOS, the CliniClowns College:

… offers more than 100,000 sick and/or disabled children a chance to get them out of their daily environment, to offer them fun as well as distraction so they can be carefree…

More than 70 professional CliniClowns put on performances in 100 hospitals and care institutions throughout the Netherlands…

Click the links below to watch a video as well as to view photos.

• VIDEO
• Gallery One
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Sources: RVD/HKH and NOS.nl

On May 15, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands along with Their Royal Highnesses Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands attended the 2012 Appeltjes van Oranje Awards (Apples of Orange) ceremony held at the Paleis Noordeinde in Den Haag.

According to RVD and NOS, “… each year the Oranje Fund awards initiatives that successfully connect different groups of people with the Appeltjes van Oranje Awards…”  There were ten initiatives nominated this year and only three winners.  This year the 2012 Appeltjes van Oranje award went to Smarter Together Neighborhood Farm Baalder, COOLzaad van Stichting BuurtLAB, and Beheer Cultuurhistorische Perenboomrij.

Besides receiving this great award, made of bronze and designed by Her Majesty, the winners also receive 15,000 Euros.

Click the links below to watch a video as well as to view photos.

• VIDEO
• Gallery One
• Gallery Two

Sources: RVD and NOS

His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje was in Epe on May 8, 2012, to attend the inauguration of a new high-tech sewage treatment plant.

This new water purification technology entitled, Nereda, purify’s,  “…domestic and industrial waste water into sustainable water.” Nereda, also reduces energy costs by 30% and is much cheaper “…to build than the current common sewage cleansing.”

Fascinating.

Click the links below to watch a video clip, in Dutch, and to view photos.

• VIDEO
• VIDEO 2
• Gallery One
• Gallery Two

Sources: RVD/HKH and NOS

On May 8, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands attended the opening ceremony of the 50th International Annual Meeting of the World Wide Fund for Nature in Rotterdam.

According to RVD, today’s meeting:

… is held for the first time in Netherlands on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Dutch branch of the WWF, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The theme of the annual meeting is ‘Economy of the Future’. Prof. J. Randers,  gave a speech in which he outlines a number of future scenarios for sustainable development of the world.

Afterward, Her Majesty visited a photo exhibition by famed National Geographic photographer, Mr. Frans Lanting, entitled, LIFE: A Journey Through Time.

To learn more about Mr. Lanting and his work please click here and here.

Click the links below to watch a video as well as to view photos.

• VIDEO  (in Dutch)
• Gallery One

Sources: RVD/HKH and NOS.nl