Plenty of space to sing, dance, bright sunshine and diversity and social issues. King Willem-Alexander’s visit to Rotterdam for his 56th birthday has come to an end. The theme for this King’s Day was “We are all kings and queens”.
The family was received by Mayor Aboutaleb and King’s Commissioner Jaap Smit at around 11:00 am. The children’s mayor, Louey Zerourou, also shook hands with them. The royal couple’s middle daughter, Princess Alexia, was absent today due to her exams in Wales.
On the way, the family watched performances of dancers, circus performers and football players. The Rotterdam Summer Carnival was presented, the family boarded the water taxi and, among others, Ronnie Flex, Davina Michelle and Lee Towers sang for the family.
There was a lot of security in Rotterdam. However, that didn’t stop the royal family from shaking hands with the waiting people. As always, lots of selfies were taken with the visitors along the route.
But there were also visible criticisms of the royal family. Along the way, a group of people protested the monarchy: “Today, four million euros will be blown up in just under two hours,” says Floris Müller of the Republican action group, one of the organizers of the protest. Not suitable”, especially not in a community where there is a lot of poverty. The group sees the king as a symbol of inequality.
slavery history
During his march, the king touched on social issues. He spoke to Rotterdammers about the past of slavery and how it is reflected in discrimination in today’s society. He was asked if he wanted to apologize on behalf of the royal family. He then referred to the independent research he commissioned on the history of slavery.
Queen Máxima spoke to victims of the welfare issue. She said she was amazed that the welfare victims could unite. “Finding each other is very important. “We help each other not to be alone and alone,” said the Queen.
After the Markthal tour, King Willem-Alexander took the stage with Máxima at the festival grounds in Rotterdam. He gave a closing speech there: “I actually want to do this again,” Máxima said, visibly emotional.
“We come from tough times and we are facing tough times. We must work together for the future. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what your background is, what your culture is,” he said. “You are ‘All Kings and Queens’,” he concluded. Because you are open to others. Actions, not words!”
Source: NOS
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
