King and Queen begin state visit to the Netherlands
Queen Beatrix welcoming The King and Queen on their state visit to the Netherlands. Photo: Lex van Lieshout/EAP
On Tuesday 21 April, The King and Queen began a three-day state visit to the Netherlands. The King and Queen were accompanied by Minister for Employment, Sven Otto Littorin, and Minister for Education, Jan Björklund. Following a welcoming ceremony at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, Queen Beatrix accompanied The King and Queen on a visit to the 15th century church, Nieuwe Kerk, in Amsterdam.
On Tuesday afternoon, The King attended the seminar, “Work for all - Challenges and solutions in times of economic crisis", at De Bazel conference centre. The seminar was led by ministers Sven Otto Littorin and Piet Hein Donner.
The Queen paid a visit to Amsterdam's city library, and the exhibition of Swedish children's book illustrators - an exhibition that has been compiled by Illustratörcentrum, with support from the Swedish Institute.
The King with Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands during the welcoming ceremony at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. Photo: Bas Czerwinski/AP
Finally, The King and Queen, together with Minister for Employment Sven Otto Littorin, visited Fort Kudelstaart and the project, “Herstelling Foundation: Rebuilding forts as well as young people's lives", where young unemployed people are offered work experience at a project focusing on restoring old forts and defences, including a 135 km long defence wall around Amsterdam.The evening ended with a state banquet given by Queen Beatrix at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.
