State Visit from France to the Netherlands: April 11-12, 2023

[Duc_et_Pair]

In April the President of the French Republic, M Emmanuel Macron will bring a State Visit to the Netherlands. The President will be joined by Mme Brigitte Macron-Trogneux.

Yesterday the President was in The Hague to visit Prime Minister Mark Rutte and was happy to announce that he was "honoured" with the invitation by the King. The cooperation between the two countries is strong. It is visible in companies as Air France-KLM (550 airplanes and 70 million passengers a year) in which both countries hold 15% of the share each. Or in Stellantis, established in Amsterdam, the mother company of Peugeot, Citroën and more (280.000 workforce worldwide), in purchasing artworks together to be owned 50/50 by France and the Netherlands and to roulate between French and Dutch museums.

Both countries directly share a border on the island of Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin in the Caribbean. And of course until 1975 between the Dutch colony of Suriname and Guyane-française, until 1890 between Luxembourg and France, until 1839 directly between the Netherlands and France (today's franco-belgian border) .

 

[doro]

At the invitation of His Majesty the King, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, will pay a state visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 April 2023. The President will be accompanied by his wife Brigitte Macron.

During the state visit government consultations will be held between members of the Dutch and French governments. Consultations of this kind were first held with France in March 2022 in Paris, and are intended for countries with which the Netherlands has the closest ties. During such consultations the Netherlands and France make plans for closer collaboration in the years ahead.

The French President’s visit to the Netherlands will reaffirm the excellent ties between the two counties. The state visit will help to further deepen their cooperation, including joint efforts by France and the Netherlands to make Europe stronger, greener and safer.

In 2016 the King and Queen paid a state visit to France.

Source: Royal House of the Netherlands

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I hope they will improve the dais for the cérémonie protocollaire.

When the ceremony is held in the backyard of Noordeinde Palace, the canopy over the stairs is used for the dais, like it was done for the President of France, introducing himself to the King: picture.

When it is at Dam Square, an open dais is used, when the weather is good: picture.

But last time, in rainy weather, a horrible canopy was placed on Dam Square. I really hope they find a more avantgarde solution than this: picture.

 

[doro]

I could imagine WA and Maxima wearing the Legion of Honour...

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I could imagine WA and Maxima wearing the Legion of Honour...

The King already has the Légion d'Honneur and Queen Máxima has the Ordre National du Mérite. It depends on the dresscode for the State Banquet if the grand decorations will be worn. The latest State Visit to Président Hollande only saw simple suit-and-tie during the Banquet at the Palais de l'Élysée.

When President Chirac visited Queen Beatrix, it was black tie on request of the French. Before Chirac, President Mitterrand wore white tie with grand decorations.

Picture François Mitterrand in Amsterdam

François Mitterrand at the Palais de l'Élysée (State Banquet)

François Mitterrand at the Opéra Garnier in Paris (Return event by Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus)

Picture Jacques Chirac in Amsterdam

François Hollande at Noordeinde Palace (Introduction Visit)

Picture François Hollande (State Banquet at the Palais de l'Élysée)

Picture François Hollande (Return event by the King and Queen Máxima at the Petit-Palais)

Picture Emmanuel Macron at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague (Introduction Visit)

 

[An Ard Ri]

I wonder if we will see the Princess of Orange in attendance at the Gala?

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

My guess: - as long as the Princess of Orange is a student - we will see her attending incoming royal State Visits.

When the Princess is a "fulltime royal", we will see her at all incoming State Visits and probably joining her parents during outgoing royal State Vists.

 

[iceflower]

The programme of the state visit has been released yesterday:


** royal-house.nl: State visit by the President of France – program **

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

In the evening at the second day, there will be a diner at the Rijksmuseum. Is that the counter-event by France, or is that a second diner by the hosts?

The Rijksmuseum has various venues to hold a diner, like this one:
https://vrf.nl/media/rijksmuseum-special-event-audiospecialst-2048x914.webp

The best place of course is the Honorary Gallery with Dutch Masters:
https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/sites/defa...&width=2048&height=1152&impolicy=semi_dynamic

That the Marines' Corps (picture) will form the Guard of Honour seems a sort of roulating scheme to me between the various Regiments, to give acte de présence at State Visits.

It is not mentioned on the website of the Royal House but Le Figaro mentioned that the Royal Netherlands Navy is finalizing the purchase of 4 Barracuda Class nuclear attack submarines (in non-nuclear version) designed by the French shipbuilder Naval Group

Plus: the purchase of 6 "motherships" for an unmanned fleet of aerial drones and underwater robotic submarines, also to be build by Naval Group, for the replacement of conventional mine hunters by these newest countermeasure vessels.

(The Royal Netherlands Navy will hand over the conventional minesweepers to Ukraine). Apparently the Visite d'État is not only for the nice photo-op but also for hard €€€€ and strategic partnerships.

This will help the chagrin by the French after the Royal Netherlands Army decided to purchase 2800 armoured heavy trucks from Swedish company Scania instead from Renault to replace 2800 phased-out trucks by Dutch firm DAF. (The Dutch company DAF -remarkably- has not offered a bid for this because their order portfolio was already so overbooked they could not guarantee the production and delivery of 2800 extra heavy trucks in the coming three years.)

 

[doro]

My guess: - as long as the Princess of Orange is a student - we will see her attending incoming royal State Visits.

When the Princess is a "fulltime royal", we will see her at all incoming State Visits and probably joining her parents during outgoing royal State Vists.

For a while, we will see, for example, Laurentien and Margriet attending state banquets in honour of republicans Heads of State.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

For a while, we will see, for example, Laurentien and Margriet attending state banquets in honour of republicans Heads of State.

I can only remember Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien during the State Banquet in honour of King Abdullah of Jordan and during the State Banquet in honour of the President of Singapore. Their attendance at State Banquets is minimal, both under Queen Beatrix (2001-2013) and under King Willem-Alexander (since 2013).

The couple prefers to focus on their own lives and careers outside the Royal House (while -of course- remaining members of said House). It is a pity but okay, that was a deliberate choice back then. Prince Constantijn was "just" the third son and had an older brother above him. All by all probably he is still more apparent than he ever expected to be, we may assume.

Having said that: Princess Laurentien is fully francophone. She had her secondary education at the Lycée Français in Tokyo when her father served as the EU Permanent Representative (Ambassador) in Japan and has lived in (mainly francophone) Brussels. Prince Constantijn did a post-academic year at the Institut européen d'administration des affaires (Insead) in Fontainebleau and worked for years at the European Commission in Brussels. French must not be a problem for him either. Their attendance at the State Banquet in honour of President and Madame Macron would be lovely.

This morning the frigate Normandie from the Marine Nationale française will fire 21 gunshots at the IJ-river in Amsterdam. This will be answered with 21 gunshots from the Marine Etablissement (the 17th C naval barracks).

It is 47 years ago that an incoming State Visit was accompagnied with navy ships. Back then King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden embarked in Amsterdam with the destroyer HMS Halland. Also then 21 gunshots were fired, answered with 21 gunshots.

Undoubtedly the purchase by the Royal Netherlands Navy of 4 submarines and 6 "motherships" for an unmanned fleet of aerial drones and underwater robotic submarines will be a reason for the unusual attendance of a French frigate during a State Visit. The main contender for this purchase is the French firm Naval Group.

 

[iceflower]

The state visit has started!


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 **


** gettyimages gallery ** anp gallery ** rex gallery ** ppe gallery ** robinutrecht.photoshelter gallery **

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

A sunny but very windy Dam Square. Nice display with lots of military ceremonial and of course Monsieur le Président preferred to arrive with a Renault above one of the royal Audi limousines!

The presidential Airbus was welcomed by fighter jets of the Royal Netherlands Air Force and escorted to Schiphol Amsterdam: picture.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Dam Square wouldn't be my favourite venue for a State Visit Ceremonial arrival but they always manage to make it look nicer with the floral decorations.

 

[maria-olivia]

The King and the President wore the Decoration of la Légion d' Honneur. Let us see which Sashes will be worn this evening.

 

[JGio]

The President of France tonight is wearing a morning coat instead of white tie. At those level it has to be rather embarrassing.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1645850670606565376

 

[Nico]

The President of France tonight is wearing a morning coat instead of white tie. At those level it has to be rather embarrassing.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1645850670606565376

President Macron wore a morning coat in Danemark and in Belgium too.

Some in his entourage made the remark, but he simply didn't care.

Mrs Macron is looking lovely though.

 

[JGio]

President Macron wore a morning coat in Danemark and in Belgium too.

Some in his entourage made the remark, but he simply didn't care.

Mrs Macron is looking lovely though.

Oh dear. I’ve never noticed! Well, this time he also a black waistcoat to add some more daily vibes to the whole.

 

[Saragli]

Perhaps is tailor or supplier is still on strike ...the First Lady and Queen look lovely.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

Interesting that Madame Macron did not even opt for a miniature rather than the full Order. We saw that with Queen Camilla: the breast star only instead of a full Order. It seems those Orders are slowly becoming less prominent.

Note to Queen Máxima: hanging hair and a diadem are a no-no. But here at least she waa nicely styled.

 

[Nico]

President Macron considers the morning suit as some kind of formal presidential uniform, or whatever. Some say he tried the White tie and didn't like it. C'est la vie.

 

[wartenberg7]

The state banquet, live:

 

[doro]

I'm waiting to see Maxima wearing the Legion of Honour for the first time

 

[Somebody]

Interesting that Madame Macron did not even opt for a miniature rather than the full Order. We saw that with Queen Camilla: the breast star only instead of a full Order. It seems those Orders are slowly becoming less prominent.

Note to Queen Máxima: hanging hair and a diadem are a no-no. But here at least she waa nicely styled.

Which order did she receive? I am still trying to understand Willem-Alexander's order policy...

 

[Marengo]

Did more members of the RF attend the dinner or just the King and Queen? If so it is surprising that a president of France does not warrant a more substantial delegation.

The president and his wife will stay in Dam palace, which has a large collection of Empire-style furniture, dating from the time of Louis Napoleon, King of Holland.

Is it the first time that the state banquet is filmed? I can not remember it happening before. Very nice. I don't remember getting to see the national anthems played during the banquet.

Lovely that the King delivered his speech in French!

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

The President also spoke a few sentences in Dutch, wonderful effort.

 

[Somebody]

President Macron's attempt to speech in Dutch (including a part where the subtitles state 'incomprehensible') with slightly amused smile from the king sitting next to him.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

Which order did she receive? I am still trying to understand Willem-Alexander's order policy...

If Willem-Alexander continues the policy towards former Première Dames de France, Madame Macron should have received the Grootkruis in de Kroonorde (Huisorde van Oranje) as Queen Máxima has been upgraded from the Grand-Croix de l'Ordre national de la Mérite to the Grand-Croix de l'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur.

But maybe Madame Macron is not a lady who likes to wear Orders, a bit Fabiola-esque, let me say. I can not imagine the King has not been willing to reciprocate. I saw lots of French officials in the Citizens' Hall of the Royal Palace, wearing Dutch decorations.

 

[Nico]

If Willem-Alexander continues the policy towards former Première Dames de France, Madame Macron should have received the Grootkruis in de Kroonorde (Huisorde van Oranje) as Queen Máxima has been upgraded from the Grand-Croix de l'Ordre national de la Mérite to the Grand-Croix de l'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur.

But maybe Madame Macron is not a lady who likes to wear Orders, a bit Fabiola-esque, let me say. I can not imagine the King has not been willing to reciprocate. I saw lots of French officials in the Citizens' Hall of the Royal Palace, wearing Dutch decorations.

Like Carla Sarkozy before her, Madame Marcon fears to damage the fabric of the dress lent to her by, i presume, Louis Vuitton, hence the lack of Orders, especially the pinned Star.

 

[suztav]

I love Maxima's gown, however those sleeves are so big they look as if they are going to swallow-up President Macron -- who is (ahem) much more diminutive than the statuesque King and Queen.