Dutch Royal Couple Open Australian Exhibition

On the occasion of their upcoming state visit to Australia and New Zealand, Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima opened the art exhibition ’Mapping Australia’’ at the Aboriginal Art Museum (AAMU) in Utrecht, today Monday October 3.

The exhibition was organized together between the AAMU and the Australian Embassy to mark the 400th anniversary since the first time that a Dutch man, sailor and explorer Dirk Hartog, reached the west coast of Australia.

Koningspaar opent, in aanloop naar staatsbezoeken #Australië en #NieuwZeeland, de tentoonstelling #MappingAustralia in @AAMUmuseum pic.twitter.com/b1vFPPmBcY

— Koninklijk Huis (@koninklijkhuis) October 3, 2016

In the exhibition are shown maps belonging to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) from 17th and 18th century but also pieces of the Aboriginal arts and a portfolio with some prints made by ten Aboriginal artists that represent the arrival of the first European ship, the Dutch Duyfken, on the Australian north coast in 1606.

Koning Willem-Alexander en koningin Máxima in @AAMUmuseum voor opening 'Mapping Australia'. 'Huiswerk' voor staatsbezoek. #Royalty pic.twitter.com/hA3gdtFE5v

— Rick Evers (@Rick_Evers) October 3, 2016

This portfolio was donated to the then Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima in 2006 during their visit to Australia and then was given by them to the AAMU. The exhibition will be opened for the public from tomorrow October 4 until January 15, 2017.

This evening King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima officially opened our new exhibition #MappingAustralia (photos @marnixschmidt) pic.twitter.com/rdSByLBb2e

— AboriginalArtMuseum (@AAMUmuseum) October 3, 2016

Filed under The Netherlands
Tagged Australia, Exhibition, King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Museum, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.