King and Queen visit Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt - Programme
News item | 23-01-2017 | 12:01
His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima transfer from Tuesday 7 to Friday, February 10th, 2017 a working visit to the German states of Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. The aim of the visit is to deepen trade and investment relations and promoting cooperation in the fields of Chemistry, Water and HTSM (High Tech Systems and Materials). In addition to the visit to the eastern Länder attention to cultural, historical and social developments, including 500 year Reformation, the Second World War and the reunification of Germany.
The King and Queen visit every year to one or more Länder, with special attention to economic relations. They are when they visit accompanied by Minister Lilianne Ploumen for Foreign Trade and Development, which simultaneously leads a trade mission to the states. Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen of Infrastructure and Environment is present at the component that focuses on the Water sector.
Tuesday, February 7 - Thuringia
500 years Reformation - Castle of Wartburg
In 2017 it is 500 years since Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses revealed. This is considered the starting point of the Reformation, when Protestantism originated. Because Luther was exiled, he lived in 1521 a year incognito at the Wartburg castle, where he translated the New Testament into German. This translation is considered the basis for the standardization of the written German language. The King and Queen visit the castle and the study of Luther. In the evening held a dinner on the Reformation and the consequences for faith and culture.
Wednesday, February 8 - Thuringia and Saxony
Prewar Judaism - Alte Synagogue - Erfurt
Erfurt visit the Royal Couple the Old Synagogue, the oldest surviving synagogue in Europe, which has its origin in 1094. In response to the Holocaust, the building is used among other things as a warehouse and inn. The synagogue was rediscovered in 1992 and now serves as a museum of Jewish life in Erfurt.
In Erfurt, the King and Queen in the Brandenburg state a conversation with Prime Minister of Thuringia Ramelow.
Remember and commemorate - Buchenwald
The Royal Couple will visit the former concentration camp Buchenwald, which was built in 1937 as a work camp for prisoners and opponents of National Socialism. As of May 1940, an estimated 3,300 Dutch deported to Buchenwald, which have killed more than 500. In total, more than 280,000 people from more than 50 countries imprisoned in the camp, of whom about 56,000 people were killed. The King and Queen lay flowers in memory of the victims.
Leipzig is once again the Royal Couple reflect on the Dutch who had to work in local factories as forced laborers.
Cultural history - Weimar
In Weimar, the couple gets a tour of the Duchess Anna Amalia Bibliothek and the Goethe und Schiller-Archiv. The library was founded in 1691 and conducts research on literary and cultural history, in particular works from the time of lighting to late romanticism.
The Goethe und Schiller-Archiv was founded by Grand Duchess Sophie of Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach, daughter of King William II and Anna Pavlovna. She founded the store in 1889, after the grandson of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's literary estate was bequeathed to her, and her also the papers of Friedrich von Schiller had been entrusted.
Interim lunch the King and Queen at the invitation of Prime Minister Ramelow in the "Bücherkubus', the atrium of the library of Weimar. During lunch, take King Willem-Alexander and the Prime Minister both a speech.
Trade mission HTSM - Jena
At the Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technologies come German and Dutch companies and institutions in the sector High Tech Systems and Materials together. The companies give the Royal Couple explanation of optical technology and semiconductor / semiconductor and display their products, such as lenses, chips and robots. Also speaks some students from the University of Jena. Afterwards they see a 14-meter-high Glasfaserziehanlage (fiber drawing tower), a device for controlled development and production of fiber optic cables.
Trade dinner - Leipzig - Saxony
The King and Queen in the Kongresshalle am Zoo attended the trade dinner, a meeting of the participating Dutch companies and institutions of the trade mission led by Minister Ploumen, and their German partners.
Thursday, February 9 - Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt
Energy - live - take - Leipzig
In the morning visit the Royal Couple, the European Energy Exchange (EEX), the largest energy exchange in Europe. Here are traded include electricity, natural gas, coal and CO2 emission certificates. When visiting include attention to the so-called Energiewende, where there must be a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy supply in the long term. TenneT introduced the construction of a high-voltage grid in Germany.
Then visits the couple Grunau, one of the largest 'Plattenbau'-quarters in the former GDR. In the eighties, lived here for almost 90,000 people in flats, the population is now around 40,000. The district is a symbol of the GDR and the difficult period following reunification. The couple speaks among other residents in the community center.
In the former cotton mill (Baumwollspinnerei) is a start-up accelerator equipped, where together young entrepreneurs and cultural institutions. The Royal couple attends an event at which all parties are brought together: colleges, businesses, sponsors, start ups and investors.
In the former town hall of Leipzig Prime Minister Tillich of Saxony offers a lunch at which the King and the Prime Minister both a speech.
Trade mission Biobased Chemicals - Leipzig
During the visit to Saxony is a meeting place where around 60 Dutch and German experts from the sector 'green chemistry' meet. The King and Queen were present at the signing of two cooperation agreements, including with the Dutch Bio-based Delta. It contains investments centrally where biomass (including wood) into high quality chemical raw materials. The Royal Couple talking with various experts and company representatives on technical applications.
In the field of research was also an ammunition factory where 500 Dutch forced laborers had to work. The King and Queen visit the information center to ponder here.
500 years Reformation - Wittenberg - Saxony-Anhalt
In the afternoon, the couple will visit the Castle Church of Wittenberg. They get a tour of the church where Luther nailed his 95 theses revealed and where his final resting place.
In the evening, Prime Minister Haseloff Saxony-Anhalt dinner in the town hall of Wittenberg, where the King and the Prime Minister to make a speech.
Friday 10 February - Saxony-Anhalt
Architecture - Bauhaus - Dessau
The King and Queen visit in the morning the Bauhaus in Dessau. The Bauhaus art school in 1919 arose from a need for a total change in art and architecture. Business design and functional objects would put an end to the influences of Art Nouveau and Art Nouveau and especially radiate progress. The Royal Couple will visit the permanent exhibition and talks include the influence of the Dutch art movement De Stijl had on Bauhaus.
Trade Mission Water - Dessau
The Kornhaus on the River Elbe live the King and Queen German-Dutch presentations on flood and rivers of the future. The Dutch research institute Deltares shows among others a simulation of early flood protection scenarios, developed with German counterparts. The King and Queen make a tour company presentations, including an app for flood forecasting.
Water management - Cultural heritage - Oranienbaum
The Royal Couple will get a brief tour of Schloss Oranienbaum, which is under restoration. Princess Henriette Catherine of Anhalt-Dessau, Princess of Orange-Nassau, managed the estate since 1660 and left the palace named after her family designs by a Dutch architect.
Schloss Oranienbaum has suffered in 2002 and in 2013 suffered due to the flooding of the Elbe, and developed a strategy for flood protection. In the palace finds a closing lunch spot where experts in the field of water exchange knowledge and experience on rivers in the future.
did you get the chance to talk to the king and queen?
I don't see it honestly, I keep looking at the coat and don't see what people are talking about. But I can see why people would be upset. Its not about being 'politically correct', its about showing respect. Millions of lives were lost at the hands of people wearing that symbol. Many of the people in the area may have lost a parent or grandparent, or been in a camp themselves. So yes, I think it understandable that people would react badly to a foreign head of state's consort brandishing such a symbol while on a visit. It is a sign of disrespect, like going to a muslim country and not dressing modestly, if Maxima knew there was a possible resemblance. 
