Tim
Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Dec 25, 2020
- 1,059
April 30th, the birthday of Princess Juliana, had been chosen for the celebration of Queen Beatrix's birthday upon her ascencion of the throne in 1980 as her birthday on the 31st on january didn't have good enough weather for the festive activities that were hosted on the day itself.
In 1998 the Queen would be visiting Doesburg and Zutphen. The Royal Delegation would consist of Queen Beatrix and her husband Prince Claus with their sons crown prince Willem-Alexander, prince Johan Friso and Prince Constantijn. Other members of the Royal Family present were: Princess Margriet and Mr Pieter van Vollenhoven, Prince Maurits and his fiance Marilene van den Broek, Prince Bernard, Prince Pieter-Christiaan and Prince Floris. The entire visit would be recorded and broadcast live on Dutch television from 9 in the morning until about 13:30, the end of the program.
Upon arrival in Doesburg the entire Royal Family present visited the Doesburgse Martinikerk where they watched multiple choruses perform.
Choruses perform for Queen Beatrix in the Doesburgse Martinikerk
After the performances they left the church with Mayor Herman Overweg who spoke to the Queen outside the church on a podium in front of quite a large audience.
"In 1945, after the war, this church was destroyed, and with it the hopes and dreams of many people were crushed by that terrible war. Your grandmother, then Queen Wilhelmina, visited this church and said 'this church will ressurect in its former glory' and as you today witnessed that has happened, and the church and our city of Doesburg is proud to receive you today to celebrate your birthday Queen Beatrix."
"Thank you very much Mayor Overweg, and of course the wonderful people of Doesburg, for having me today on this beautiful day." The queen said while smiling to the crowd that had gathered there.
Hermen Overweg (right), Mayor of Doesburg, speaks to Queen Beatrix (in green)
After the short speech they went to the square next to the church were a large multi-cultural fesivity was being held consisting of dance, song and other performative arts. After going by these performances the Mayor escorted the delegation through the historic streets of Doesburg where they would see some more various performances and scenes including a fairy tale forest.
With a landau carriage the Royal Family was taken to the Doesburg harbour where they said goodbye to the mayor and the crowd that was there waving at them. They boarded a boat from where they waved to the crowd on the harbor quay while the ship sailed upstream on the IJsel to Zutphen. In the harbour of Zutphen they were ceremoniously welcomed by Mayor A. Verstand, the Marine band and the large audience that had gathered there to see the Royal Family.
The Queen (middle) with Mayor Verstand (right) looking at a ballet performance.
On their route in the city were even more various performances including a classical ballet performance of the Zutphen Ballet School. After the performance the Queen spoke with some of the young girls about their future and their dreams for that future.
Ballet performance
The last part of their visit to Zutphen was viting the large Hanzemarkt where people and companies displayed their craft items including anything from woodworking to food. On the market Prince Claus bought a self composed bouquet for his wife the Queen. The Queen went through the market and looked at, and tasted, various of the items being sold on the market.
After this the Royal Family returned home, but the market and celebrations went on for the entire day.
Throughout the entire country vrijmarkten were being held with people selling their old or home-made goods. Later on the day large groups of people got together to celebrate the day with large parties.
Vrijmarkten in different cities
In 1998 the Queen would be visiting Doesburg and Zutphen. The Royal Delegation would consist of Queen Beatrix and her husband Prince Claus with their sons crown prince Willem-Alexander, prince Johan Friso and Prince Constantijn. Other members of the Royal Family present were: Princess Margriet and Mr Pieter van Vollenhoven, Prince Maurits and his fiance Marilene van den Broek, Prince Bernard, Prince Pieter-Christiaan and Prince Floris. The entire visit would be recorded and broadcast live on Dutch television from 9 in the morning until about 13:30, the end of the program.
Upon arrival in Doesburg the entire Royal Family present visited the Doesburgse Martinikerk where they watched multiple choruses perform.
Choruses perform for Queen Beatrix in the Doesburgse Martinikerk
After the performances they left the church with Mayor Herman Overweg who spoke to the Queen outside the church on a podium in front of quite a large audience.
"In 1945, after the war, this church was destroyed, and with it the hopes and dreams of many people were crushed by that terrible war. Your grandmother, then Queen Wilhelmina, visited this church and said 'this church will ressurect in its former glory' and as you today witnessed that has happened, and the church and our city of Doesburg is proud to receive you today to celebrate your birthday Queen Beatrix."
"Thank you very much Mayor Overweg, and of course the wonderful people of Doesburg, for having me today on this beautiful day." The queen said while smiling to the crowd that had gathered there.
Hermen Overweg (right), Mayor of Doesburg, speaks to Queen Beatrix (in green)
After the short speech they went to the square next to the church were a large multi-cultural fesivity was being held consisting of dance, song and other performative arts. After going by these performances the Mayor escorted the delegation through the historic streets of Doesburg where they would see some more various performances and scenes including a fairy tale forest.
With a landau carriage the Royal Family was taken to the Doesburg harbour where they said goodbye to the mayor and the crowd that was there waving at them. They boarded a boat from where they waved to the crowd on the harbor quay while the ship sailed upstream on the IJsel to Zutphen. In the harbour of Zutphen they were ceremoniously welcomed by Mayor A. Verstand, the Marine band and the large audience that had gathered there to see the Royal Family.
The Queen (middle) with Mayor Verstand (right) looking at a ballet performance.
On their route in the city were even more various performances including a classical ballet performance of the Zutphen Ballet School. After the performance the Queen spoke with some of the young girls about their future and their dreams for that future.
Ballet performance
The last part of their visit to Zutphen was viting the large Hanzemarkt where people and companies displayed their craft items including anything from woodworking to food. On the market Prince Claus bought a self composed bouquet for his wife the Queen. The Queen went through the market and looked at, and tasted, various of the items being sold on the market.
After this the Royal Family returned home, but the market and celebrations went on for the entire day.
Throughout the entire country vrijmarkten were being held with people selling their old or home-made goods. Later on the day large groups of people got together to celebrate the day with large parties.
Vrijmarkten in different cities
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