Friday 6 May 2016

Maxima's week


King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arriving at the Liberation Day concert in Amsterdam
(photo @koninklijkhuis Twitter)

It was a quiet but important for Queen Maxima as she and King Willem-Alexander took part in two major national events - Remembrance Day and Liberation Day. From solemnity to remembering with gratitude, this was a week of powerful significance for the royal couple.





The act of National Remembrance took place on May 4th in Amsterdam where King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima laid a wreath in memory of all those who have been killed in armed conflict since the start of World War II.  The ceremony took place at the National Monument in Dam Square - the memorial was completed in 1956 and is at the centre of the annual act of remembrance which always takes place on May 4th.



The royal couple also attended a service at the Nieuwe Kerk with politicians from across the Netherlands, including Prime Minister Mark Rutte, in attendance.



The following day saw them take part in Liberation Day, the annual remembrance and celebration of the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi Germany in 1945.  It has been a national holiday since 1990.


Willem-Alexander and Maxima attended the huge concert in the centre of Amsterdam held to celebrate the day.




They also took a boat ride where the celebrations continued as they waved to those lining the route to see them.



After the rfor King's Day last week, this week has seen Maxima and Willem-Alexander complete a trio of events important to the whole of the Netherlands.  Modern monarchy in action.

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