King Willem-Alexander’s Special Bond and State Visit to Belgium – Importance of Neighboring Relations

We may not quote the monarch, but we may tell what he had to tell us. For example, he said that relations with neighboring countries are the most important to him and he emphasized the special bond with our country. Its other neighbour, Germany, is also important, but the Germans are not a monarchy.

That is why he finds the state visit to our country extra special. According to the monarch, you can also see this in the large number of ministers on both sides of the border who will participate in the activities surrounding the state visit. Although he does not necessarily need a state visit to strengthen ties or discuss what he wants with his Belgian colleague.

Because the relationship between the two countries is one of friendship, which has been going on for decades and that also applies to both royal houses, Willem-Alexander said. He even dares to call King Philippe. He also confirmed that those strong ties will continue in the future as the next generation also has intense friendships. According to the king, you can see that at every official meeting in how the royal children interact with each other.

On 1 July, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will participate in the National Commemoration of Slavery in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam. In the Netherlands they also call that day Keti Koti, Surinamese for “chains broken”. Incidentally, this year also marks the 150th anniversary of the de facto end of slavery in Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles.