King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, according to Syracuse.com, will be visiting Albany, New York on June 12 as part of their trip to the US. Along with the previously mentioned city and NYC, the royals also plan to visit Georgia, the 10th largest U.S. trade partner for the Netherlands’.
Having been in friendly relations with their country for centuries, it’s no surprise that Albany is the first stop on the ruler’s visit to the States. With multiple connections and historic sites with Dutch ties, and the fact that King Williem-Alexander’s mother, Princess Beatrix, also visited Albany in 1959, it’s no surprise that they are working to keep the connection between their country and the NY city alive and well.
While they might not be in the ever-famous ‘city that never sleeps’ upon arrival, the royals still have a busy schedule ahead of them. As described by Times-Union, the two will, upon arrival, meet Gov. Kathy Hochul at the governor’s mansion, where they will return later that evening for King Willem-Alexander to deliver an address.
Other individuals they will meet include the CEOs of currently active Dutch companies in the Capital Region. Also scheduled to visit the University of Albany, the king and queen will be given a tour of the NY CREATES nanotech hub. King Willem-Alexander will also speak at a business seminar regarding cooperation in semiconductor research, development, and production. Later that same afternoon, the royals have another trip planned, this time, to the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site for a discussion on climate change with young individuals.
The U.S., regarding economics and security, is considered to be the Netherlands’ biggest non-EU partner. According to the Royal House of the Netherlands, this transatlantic tie helps safeguard the Netherlands’ prosperity. The alliance between the two countries is long and strong-standing. Over 5 million Americans have traced their roots to the Netherlands, cementing the relations between the two countries with cultural and personal links. Visiting each other’s countries is just another way for leaders to prove that the countries are still standing by each other and will continue to do so. Hopefully, a political figure in America will also be able to do the same and go to the Netherlands’.
