Small chance you missed the news: His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima visited Australia last week! Together with a trade mission of over 100 Dutch companies, led by Minister Ploumen for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and Minister Kamp for Economic Affairs, Their Majesties and Minister Koenders for Foreign Affairs traveled the entire country to visit the Dutch community and see the flourishing Dutch business network in Australia.
Their Majesties, as well as the trade delegation, had a full programme. They started their journey in Perth, where they were welcomed with a traditional ceremony and visited the wreck of the Batavia. Western Australia was specifically chosen as starting point, as the State Visit commemorated the landing of VOC skipper Dirk Hartog as first European in Australia on that coast 400 years ago. In light of this anniversary, Their Majesties also unveiled the Dirk Hartog Plate, the original plate with which Dirk Hartog recorded his landing in 1616. After a meeting with the Dutch community, it was time for His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima to travel on to Canberra.
In Canberra, Their Majesties visited the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove, and Lady Cosgrove. The visit marked one of the highlights of the State Visit, as the delegation went on kangaroo spotting on the estate of the Governor-General. On a serious note, Their Majesties, as well as Minister Koenders, Prime Minister Turnbull and his partner and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, payed their respects to the Dutch and Australian victims of flight crash MH17 at the memorial in Canberra.
After Canberra, the delegation traveled on to Sydney where the visit started with one of the biggest events during the entire state visit: the so called "return hospitality". To show their gratitude to the Australian people, the King and Queen hosted a concert and reception in an orange-lit Sydney Opera House for over 2000 guests!
After a following day full of interesting activities, such as the launch of the New Holland Scholarship Australia by Minister Koenders at the University of Sydney, the Rabobank Farm2Fork event, the signing of MoU's worth millions of dollars and the second meeting with the Dutch community, it was time to move on to the last Australian city: Brisbane.
The programme in Brisbane revolved greatly around a topic that strongly connects Queensland and the Netherlands: water. Water Management is an important topic of collaboration for Australia and the Netherlands, particularly after the Netherlands sent Dutch experts to Brisbane in response to severe flooding problems the city was facing in 2010/2011 and 2013. The seminar “Smart living with Water” at the Queensland University of Technology highlighted the water management cooperation. Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima were the first ones to try out the Smart Scanner for Resilient Cities Tool
for Brisbane, developed by both Dutch and Australian experts. Water remained the central topic of discussion as the King and Queen were informed about the recovery and improvement efforts taken by the Brisbane City Council to combat the major floods the city has been facing earlier this decade.
Other highlights of the last day of the state visit included a visit by Their Majesties to the Queensland Art Gallery to see their Australian and Aboriginal art collection and the third reception for the Dutch community, after the previous receptions in Perth and Sydney, where the King and Queen were received with enthusiasm. A great way to end a great week, after which it was time for Their Majesties to move on to New Zealand!
A photo impression of the state visit and trade mission can be found below.
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