On April 24, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands opened the Klok & Peel Museum in Asten.  According to RVD, the museum displays:

… a comprehensive international collection of loud bells and carillons (clocks games). The second collection in the museum includes the natural and cultural history of the area.

The original museum was opened in 1975 by Prince Bernhard.  In 2008 the restoration of the museum began. The museum building is completely renovated and was extended to 1100 square meters. Beside a large, new exhibition hall as the focal point of the museum, there is a glass Orangery in the museum gardens which offers space for workshops, educational projects and events. The museum has also a new entrance, a movie room with education space and gotten a new museum café.

Click here to watch a video. (in Dutch)

Her Majesty also visited the National Bricklaying and Building Championships in Barneveld this afternoon.  Again, according to RVD:

Since 1953, this event is organized and supported by the Dutch brick industry to get the youth interested in masonry.

The industry organizes the championships in cooperation with VMBO schools, training in the construction industry and civil society organizations. The Dutch brick industry is represented by the Association Koninklijke Nederlandse Construction ceramics (KNB).

Click the links below to view photos.

• Gallery One
• Gallery Two

Sources: RVD

Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands was in Zoetermeer where she visited the Stichting Piëzo (Foundation Piëzo) on April 12, 2012.  The princess was accompanied by the director of the Oranje Fonds, Mr. Van der Giessen and the mayor of Zoetermeer.

According to RVD, Stichting Piëzo is an “… organization that encourages participation, emancipation and integration with the inhabitants of  Zoetermeer…”  

Any way, Princess Maxima met with volunteers as well as students at one of the Piëzo Centrum (the foundation’s center) who are participating in a Dutch language program which is funded by the Oranje Fonds.  According to the official website for the Stichting Piëzo there are four center’s in:

… four districts in Zoetermeer where a large amount of activities are offered to the inhabitants of Zoetermeer. A team of 12 professionals in these centres supports a group of more than 220 volunteers. A wide range of language courses and activities are organized in these centers daily.

For more information about Stichting Piëzo please visit their official website here.

Click the links to view photos.

• One Photo
• Photo 2
• And, another photo

Sources: RVD, Stichtingpiezo.nl and Dichtbij.nl

On April 11, 2012, Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands was at the University of Twente to participate in the first UN Review Conference on Micro-Insurance.

Upon her arrival the princess was greeted by faculty from the University of Twente as well as participants at the conference.  According to the official website for the University of Twente today’s event was:

… organized by the Institute for Innovation and Governance Studies, a research institute of the University of Twente, in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as various international (research) institutes in the field of micro-finance.

Click the links below to view photos.

• Gallery One
• Gallery Two

Sources: RVD and Utwente.nl

Photo courtesy of Het Koninklijk Huis

On April 5, 2012, Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands participated in a meeting with President Susilo Yudhoyono of Indonesia at the royal palace in Jakarta.

The princess is currently in region as Special Advisor to the United Nations for Inclusive Finance to discuss “…accessibility of financial services, particularly for lower-income groups.”

Click here to watch a short news clip. (in Dutch)

Sources: RVD/HKH and NOS

Photo courtesy of Daylife

On April 5, 2012, His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje launched the new campaign, Maatjes: Gezocht M/V, in Utrecht.  The new campaign, supported by the Oranje Fonds:

…seeks to recruit new volunteers who are committed to mentor or coach  youth who need some extra support.  The volunteers will support a youth in need for an extended period of time .  They will also help those in need learn new skills or acquire new knowledge.

The future king of the Netherlands also visited KunstExpress, in Utrecht, “…a buddy project that is intended for youth who have artistic talent but who do not have the financial means to develop.”  If that makes any sense.   🙂

To watch videos from today’s event please click here.

Sources: RTV Utrecht and RVD/HKH

Photo courtesy of RVD/HKH

On Wednesday, April 4, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands opened the new EYE Film Museum in Amsterdam.  Also, in attendance were well-known film director and photographer, Anton Corbijn, actors Monique van de Ven and Barry Atsma to name a few.

According to the Dutch newspaper, Telegraaf, the new complex accommodates:

…four movie theaters, an exhibition space, a permanent interactive exhibit, a shop and a café-restaurant. The museum displays four major exhibitions annually, including about film authors or presentations of film in combination with other art forms.

To watch a video as well as to view photos please click the links below.

• VIDEO (takes time to load)
• Gallery One

Sources: RVD/HKH and Telegraaf

Photo courtesy of RVD/HKH