Holiday Residence in Mozambique for the Prince of Orange and Family - '08/'09

[lucien]

The Prince and Princess,together with other european friends,are involved in a building project of coastal residences/holiday homes at the coast of Mozambique,south-east Africa.

The couple had been looking for a coastal residence for a while and decided to have one build in a coastal village in Africa.The couple wishes their children to become aquanted with Africa,as Alexander and his brothers were themselves.Prince Claus grew up/lived in Tanzania,and handed over the love for the continent to his sons.

The local community (of 5000) will largely benefit from the project,as ao,5 schools,a hospital,a community center and a hotel will be build as well,meaning plenty of jobs.Great project,TRH didn't wish to just go there for the holidays,hence the grander project that involves the community.Mozambique is one of the poorest countries.

The Princess said they didn't wish for another luxury resort with deeply impoverished locals surrounding it,but an attribution to develop the country,and hopefully others will follow their example.

Argentina was no option anymore,especially not so since the three little girls got so scared/frightened during their last visit as the Family was constantly harrassed by a very agressive press.

http://www.royalblog.nl/

courtesy HJA.

..::Ponta Torres Eco Estate::..

[carlota]

Originally Posted by lucien

The Prince and Princess,together with other european friends,are involved in a building project of coastal residences/holiday homes at the coast of Mozambique,south-east Africa.

The couple had been looking for a coastal residence for a while and decided to have one build in a coastal village in Africa.The couple wishes their children to become aquanted with Africa,as Alexander and his brothers were themselves.Prince Claus grew up/lived in Tanzania,and handed over the love for the continent to his sons.

The local community (of 5000) will largely benefit from the project,as ao,5 schools,a hospital,a community center and a hotel will be build as well,meaning plenty of jobs.Great project,TRH didn't wish to just go there for the holidays,hence the grander project that involves the community.Mozambique is one of the poorest countries.

..::Ponta Torres Eco Estate::..

this is great. so far we have heard of royals wanting holiday houses here and there and this is by far the most cooperative, royal-like approach to getting a holiday home. well done, once again!

[Odette]

[quote=lucien;797495]The couple had been looking for a coastal residence for a while and decided to have one build in a coastal village in Africa.

Lucien, weren't they looking at the villa Prince Laurent of Belgium owns and does not use anymore? I think it is in Italy and needs a lot of work.

[lucien]

[quote=Odette;797756]

Originally Posted by lucien

The couple had been looking for a coastal residence for a while and decided to have one build in a coastal village in Africa.

Lucien, weren't they looking at the villa Prince Laurent of Belgium owns and does not use anymore? I think it is in Italy and needs a lot of work.

They've never been really looking for that place,its on an island north of Sicily btw,it has never been an option tho,beautifull as the location might be.It also didn't meet with their safety and privacy requirements I think,lots of paparazzi floating around.

[Odette]

Thanks Lucien. The Queen still owns the Porto Ercole vacation spot right?

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Odette

Thanks Lucien. The Queen still owns the Porto Ercole vacation spot right?

No no,that has,finally,been sold a while back.HM never owned it,it was her parents spot, "Elefante Felice".

[Marengo]

Well, the house got a lot of attention in the Dutch press, up to a point that our political parties are speaking about it (totally rediculous IMHO). The CDA (Christian Democrats) and PvdA (Labour) say they are 'proud' of the Prince of Orange and his wife. Anja Spies (PvdA): We can only be proud that the crownprincely couple doesn't settle in St.Tropez but will let the local population benefit in Mozambique. Liesbeth Spies (CDA): They are taking their social responsibility (maatschappelijke verantwoordelijkheid, a CDA-tantrum).

Harry van Bommel, SP (former Mao-ists) is asking questions about the 5 schools and the hospital that will be built in this project. He wants to know if there was any corruption in paying local authorities. Are these projects just 'normal' development aid or is it extra money provided by the PoO and the other people involved in the residences? He thinks it is fine that the local population will benifit from the plans; 'but it will show painful images too. Mozambique is one of the world's poorest countries and they <Marengo:The prince of Orange and family> will also want to have holidays on the level of Wassenaar'.

Best comment of all from D66 leader Alexander Pechtold; which shows he understands the national character 100%: 'We should not look at this with some sort of jealousy'. I suppose he suspected what mr. van Bommels reaction would be.

From: De Volkskrant, here.

[Marengo]

Some more information about the project:

- 220 luxury houses will be built
- there will be 4 types of houses, from 124 to 155 square meter
- the houses will cost between 100.000 and 150.000 euros
- the project also includes the construction of a 5-star hotel, a sewer system, trash-disposal, and clean water to drink.

Not about the project but mentioned in the article:
the prince and his family are very fond of the beach, recently they made a cycling trip through Zeeland that lasted for several days.

Article in Dutch here.

[prinsesbeagle]

Going on the size & price of the appartments/villa's I'd say they won't be excessively luxurious.

I love that they are involved in this project and have to agree with one of those politicians: they could have so easily bought some multimillion dollar villa in the South of France, in between they mega rich and all the paparazzi. Thankfully they didn't. This will also give the princesses a chance to get to know Africa very well.

I really liked what the prince said about this project after the photoshoot. Van Bommel really should keep quiet IMHO. Has he ever cared for Africa and all it's beauty and problems etc? He should go worry more over Darfur etc. THAT is what he as a politician should get worked up about!

[Paty]

As Luicen said before It will be built 5 schools,a hospital,a community center and a hotel will be build as well? or just luxury houses.

And what is Ponta Torres Eco Estate?

[Menarue]

They couldn´t have picked a more beautiful place to have a holiday home.
I lived for many years in Mozambique and the bay of Nacala is spectacular.
One beach we used to go to had lions strolling around when people weren´t around. I hope that nothing gets spoiled by this development. They had better watch out for snakes though.

[Marengo]

I agree with you pb about van Bommel, but he never misses an opportunity to attack the RF and he is usually the one who keeps on asking question after question about the RF, up to a point where it becomes rediculous (like with the sale of Noordeinde 66). Still, the SP dropped the republican stand recently, so that is good. It is prefectly fine to have a sane mind about the royals, and to ask questions about things, but he seeks fault in any action of them.

--
to Paty: that is the estate where the project will be realised.

--
To Menarue: I heard from Portuguese friends who went to the Isle of Mozambique that it is very pretty indeed. Do you know where this island is located?

[Marengo]

Minister for Living and Integration, Ella Vogelaar, said in the radio programme 'Kamerbreed' that she had double feelings by the prince of Orange building a holiday retreat in Mozambique. She said she understood that the prince and his family wantd some privay but she hopes the project will benefit the local population too.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Marengo

Minister for Living and Integration, Ella Vogelaar, said in the radio programme 'Kamerbreed' that she had double feelings by the prince of Orange building a holiday retreat in Mozambique. She said she understood that the prince and his family wantd some privay but she hopes the project will benefit the local population too.

How come we,us here and me,knew that the locals will benefit,and that she,that socialist and highly incompetent woman,dares to doubt Alexanders and Máxima's reasoning?No no,don't answer,it's totally wasted on this woman.She needed something to derive from her own
failing ailing projects see.Her meaning is of no consequence whatshowever.At all.

[Menarue]

Originally Posted by Marengo

To Menarue: I heard from Portuguese friends who went to the Isle of Mozambique that it is very pretty indeed. Do you know where this island is located?

Sorry Marengo I only saw your question today. It is off the coast of Mozambique just north of the city of Beira and below Nacala. It has a really beautiful old Portuguese fort. I have never been there but my husband was stationed there just before the Independence of Mozambique and was very impressed by it.

Picture here.

My husband said that his quarters were just above the main doorway - one of the two windows you can see. I took this from Wiki so I hope there is no problem.

[Marengo]

Just to be safe I changed it to an url. to the picture, I don't think all photos at wikipedia are free of copyrights. The texts however are. Thanks for explaining that btw, I am sure the PoO and his family will duly visit the fortress/island!
I believe the island of the crownprince is not the isle of Mozambique but the isle of Ihaca, close to Maputo.

--
To lucien: I don't think the minister was trying to score points or anything. More a matter of hearing something and awnsering without being completely informed. this is the least of her recent blunders/mistakes IMO. Still to me she is rather likable, a bit the old fashioned socialist/feminist with the over-sized earrings.

[Menarue]

One can´t be careful enough with the copyrights, thanks Marengo. The island you are talking about is Inhaca (with an n) just off the capital Maputo, which was called Lourenço Marques when I lived there. All of Mozambique is stunningly beautiful so I think that anyone choosing it for a holiday is doing the right thing. Coconut trees and warm waters with tropical fish what could be more beautiful.

[sneeuwklokje]

I think it is quite extravagant to have a holiday home over there. With today's media and the internet, they will have little privacy, even over there. It's high time they adopt a more relaxed attitude toward the media. They are not "normal" people and will never be so, same goes for their children. It's better to let them get used to that at a young age.

[Vanesa]

I agree. It's a quite extravagant having a holiday house in Mozambique. As for the attitude before the media...I think they must be ready to be public persons. They are NOT commoners and if they want to be like us...well they must be also ready to have the kind of life we uses to have...Isn't it? You must not want only the "nice" and "funny" things of a kind of life.

Royals must face not so nice things like being monitored by the media press all their lifes...but they have other things that are AWFULLY nice and they must profit them...What do you think?

Vanesa.

[Alisa]

I know nothing about van Bommel or what his true motives are but his question and comments are valid and sound reasonable.
When rich, wealthy, white, and titled Europeans want to set up a " luxury community" in one of the poorest countries in Africa, one doesn't have to be a sociology major to raise an eyebrow.

My apologies for my dissenting opinion, but this entire scheme just reeks!