Caribbean Visit of King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima & Pss of Orange, Feb/Mar 2023

[Alisa]

I can certainly see Duke's point about the trip appearing to be one endless holiday.
It is interesting to note that only the positives of each island appeared to be showcased. There were no visits to sick and infirmed, the homeless or hungry, and victims of abuse or sexual violence. Every country has these elements of society, it would've been good to see them showcase one as a part of their visit.

I think Amalia is just Amalia. She can be very carefree and light-hearted and very serious and observatory sometimes. Perhaps a good combination of her parents?
For example, a cute little anecdote was when the family was making Aloe scrubs from freshly picked aloe- the king was baffled by what a "scrub" was. Amalia responded "How do you live with 4 women and not know what a scrub is?" Of course everyone around erupted in laughter.

All things considered, I think she is doing incredible for a young woman who has such a heavy future ahead and is currently living under stressed conditions with a drug mafia threatening to kidnap and assassinate her.

[maria-olivia]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

To me, CA only rarely looks comfortable during this trip. For her start into royal events, I would have chosen something more serious and especially a shorter trip.
I can only judge from the photos, it seems like an endless holiday to me, beaches, sunglasses, outfits ... quite out of touch with what is going on in the rest of the world.
CA is mostly tagging behind her parents instead of having a kind of role during the tour, of course Maxima always absorbs the spotlight, what is not her daughters fault of course, and the lack of substance does not help.
I can't imagine all this will help with approval rates.

I wonder what Princess Beatrix is thinking about their trip .

[Marengo]

Princess Beatrix has made very simular trips with very simular elements. The islands are very dear to her. She supposedly is very popular there as well. She was there two years ago. And in 2018 -also on a beach in Bonaire- to visit a turtle project. Nobody on this forum complained about it then.

In the Netherlands the only complaints -apart from the usual group anti-monarchists on twitter- that I have seen were some raised eyebrows about the minister Van Huffelen, who seems to overshadow even Queen Máxima.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Alisa

I can certainly see Duke's point about the trip appearing to be one endless holiday.
It is interesting to note that only the positives of each island appeared to be showcased. There were no visits to sick and infirmed, the homeless or hungry, and victims of abuse or sexual violence. Every country has these elements of society, it would've been good to see them showcase one as a part of their visit.

I think Amalia is just Amalia. She can be very carefree and light-hearted and very serious and observatory sometimes. Perhaps a good combination of her parents?
For example, a cute little anecdote was when the family was making Aloe scrubs from freshly picked aloe- the king was baffled by what a "scrub" was. Amalia responded "How do you live with 4 women and not know what a scrub is?" Of course everyone around erupted in laughter.

All things considered, I think she is doing incredible for a young woman who has such a heavy future ahead and is currently living under stressed conditions with a drug mafia threatening to kidnap and assassinate her.

Another thing that I find it interesting is that, while the issue of slave reparations is often raised in royal tours of the British Caribbean islands, it doesn't seem to be an issue in the Dutch Caribbean. Why?


Importation of slaves into the Americas (1519-1867)

1. Portuguese America/Brazil: 38.5 %
2. British West Indies: 18.5 %
3. Spanish Empire: 17.5 %
4. French West Indies: 13.6 %
5. English/British North America/United States: 9.7 %
6. Dutch West Indies: 2.0 %
7. Danish West Indies: 0.3%

Source: Wikipedia

[Duc_et_Pair]

I don't understand the hullabaloo in this thread of the visit being "too festive". It is just the normal King's Day-like festivities we see at every Official Visit in a province, now just in a tropical setting:

Official Visit of the King and Queen Máxima to the west of the Province North-Brabant

Official Visit of the King and Queen Máxima to the Province of Drenthe

Official Visit of the King and Queen Máxima to the North of the Province North-Holland

[Marengo]

The discussion about repairs is being held in the other part of the former Dutch West Indies, Suriname. A commission there has calculated that the country should ask for 10 billion Euros in repairs.

https://dagbladdewest.com/2022/08/12...van-nederland/

I am not familiar with any discussion on the islands about it, though groups of Antillians living in the Netherlands may feel that repairs should be paid.

Both in Bonaire as on Curaçao the topic of slavery was included in the programme. The royal party visited the slave houses on Bonaire and on Curaçao they visited the Knip estate, where the slave leader Tula started a revolt in 1795. Afterwards visited an exhibition about the revolt and talked to descendants of enslaved people. On the same day they visited Hòfi Mango, a former suger plantation that has been transformed into a project to train Curaçao youngsters about agriculture and gardening. On Wednesday in Sint Eustasius there will be another moment -in Oranjestad- to draw attention to slavery.

I don't understand the hullabaloo in this thread of the visit being "too festive". It is just the normal King's Day-like festivities we see at every Official Visit in a province, now just in a tropical setting:

I suppose unconcious bias may play a role and the white savior complex. People may expect to see the royals in that role, though fortunately the local authorities decided otherwise and have created a very different programme that suits them and brings attention to projects that they want to highlight. There is especially a lot of focus on programmes for the young & their eductation and futures.

For the next visit the palace can perhaps propose a new-style Potemkin village, to please the palace PR department. Scenes with burned down palm trees, beaches covered with coal and ashes. Actors dressed in rags, shooting make-belief heroine and selling their infants, wailing and covering their heads with ashes. Reminiscent of biblical scenes from ancient Sodom and Gomorrah. The royal family - dressed in surgical robes and face masks- will be handing out water, food and medicine. Great pictures for the national newspapers and great PR for the palace, surely.

[iceflower]

The visit to Sint Maarten has started:


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


** gettyimages gallery: NLD: Dutch Royal Family Tour Of The Dutch Caribbean Islands **

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQtbabqRDdo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv2UU0fY6eU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQfedr2U7FQ

[Prinsara]

Originally Posted by Marengo

The discussion about repairs is being held in the other part of the former Dutch West Indies, Suriname. A commission there has calculated that the country should ask for 10 billion Euros in repairs.

https://dagbladdewest.com/2022/08/12...van-nederland/

I am not familiar with any discussion on the islands about it, though groups of Antillians living in the Netherlands may feel that repairs should be paid.

Both in Bonaire as on Curaçao the topic of slavery was included in the programme. The royal party visited the slave houses on Bonaire and on Curaçao they visited the Knip estate, where the slave leader Tula started a revolt in 1795. Afterwards visited an exhibition about the revolt and talked to descendants of enslaved people. On the same day they visited Hòfi Mango, a former suger plantation that has been transformed into a project to train Curaçao youngsters about agriculture and gardening. On Wednesday in Sint Eustasius there will be another moment -in Oranjestad- to draw attention to slavery.



I suppose unconcious bias may play a role and the white savior complex. People may expect to see the royals in that role, though fortunately the local authorities decided otherwise and have created a very different programme that suits them and brings attention to projects that they want to highlight. There is especially a lot of focus on programmes for the young & their eductation and futures.

For the next visit the palace can perhaps propose a new-style Potemkin village, to please the palace PR department. Scenes with burned down palm trees, beaches covered with coal and ashes. Actors dressed in rags, shooting make-belief heroine and selling their infants, wailing and covering their heads with ashes. Reminiscent of biblical scenes from ancient Sodom and Gomorrah. The royal family - dressed in surgical robes and face masks- will be handing out water, food and medicine. Great pictures for the national newspapers and great PR for the palace, surely.

There are serious current issues happening in the islands just like in the rest of the country. They could have mixed in a few spots like any other royal visit, along with making the tour so pleasant and festive. But as has been said, it's their choice for the program, not the visitors. I'm not sure why this level of sarcasm and political bias is necessary (..)

[Marengo]

They visited and will visit various nature preservation projects, various education projects. They attended discussions on poverty. As mentioned, the slavery past of the islands has been and will be highlighted. They visited an art project. They visited an exhibition on a WWII resistance hero from Aruba. They visited various industries. They were informed by the defence department and anti-drug operations. They visited a sports project. Today they will visit a hospital and they will look at the rebuilding efforts after the hurricane Irma. Tomorrow they will visit a housing project for elderly and handicapped people, etc. etc.

In short: they did mix these serious issues into the +/- 70 different functions/events of this visit. But I suppose they may have been overshadowed by the more festive parts of the visit, which are more interesting for photographers to share and for us to comment upon.

And although you can't, I do hope that others can forgive me my sarcasm to some extend. It has been caused by my exasperation to see this visit portrayed as a beach holiday or a never-ending party. And by the suggestion islands should be making a caricature out of life there by displaying a stream of misery to suit a supposed cynical PR angle for the palace. I am among this first to critisize the King and Queen when -in my view- they make mistakes. They certainly have given us ample opportunity to do so these past years. But in this case I really do not think it is true or fair.

[zarat]

Originally Posted by Marengo

For the next visit the palace can perhaps propose a new-style Potemkin village, to please the palace PR department. Scenes with burned down palm trees, beaches covered with coal and ashes. Actors dressed in rags, shooting make-belief heroine and selling their infants, wailing and covering their heads with ashes. Reminiscent of biblical scenes from ancient Sodom and Gomorrah. The royal family - dressed in surgical robes and face masks- will be handing out water, food and medicine. Great pictures for the national newspapers and great PR for the palace, surely.

Brillinat ironic comment Marengo!

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by Prinsara

There are serious current issues happening in the islands just like in the rest of the country. They could have mixed in a few spots like any other royal visit, along with making the tour so pleasant and festive. But as has been said, it's their choice for the program, not the visitors. I'm not sure why this level of sarcasm and political bias is necessary (..)

In that case I am sure that you are very pleased with the program that includes MANY serious issues that are being addressed during their visit.

It seems that some people have a very skewed view of this visit and blame the program when in fact their perception of what the program entails is not representative of what is included.

So let me help you out a bit with the programs of the visits to the first and last islands (especially Saba is really small and only has 1900 inhabitants) to get a better overview of what the trip is like:

Bonaire
- Official welcome at airport
- Official meeting with local government representatives
- Visit of slave huts
- Visit of Cultural Park Mangazina di Rei (showcasing the island's cultural-historic heritage): includes baking bread, a student orchestra and a historic exhibition
- Lunch discussing current issues, such as climate change, agricultural development and poverty alleviation
- Visit to Bay of Sorobon for a wind surf demonstration (something the island is known for, resulting in many talented athletes)
- Visit and conversation about nature conservation with rangers of National Parks Bonaire
- Visit 'Taste of Bonaire', a cultural festival showcasing local products, gastronomy and music

Saba
- Official welcome by government representative
- Explanation of Energy Supply system (the island works toward becoming energy neutral)
- Visit to the village of Zion's Hill for a demonstration of the local tradition 'Kantklossen'
- Walk through Windwardside, including activities focused on the elderly, artists and entrepreneurs
- Visit to the Harry L. Johnson Museum for an exhibition on life on Saba over the years
- Lunch with Saba authorities
- Visit to Expertise Education Center Saba, a center focused on supporting vulnerable students (this project won an 'Appeltje van Oranje' in 2021)
- Visit to the harbour, where they'll be informed about the plans for the future harbour
- Meeting with scientists about a project focused on the use of sea urchins to rehabilitate the coral reefs
- Visit to village The Bottom for a sports activity with children

[Toledo]

I think this long visit is great for the islands in terms of tourism. Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union and that could attract visitors from the EU looking for a nice Caribbean vacation spot within the Union.

[An Ard Ri]

The visit to the Color Me SXM mural route in Philipsburg,what beautiful scenery too!

https://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?...2023%20Maarten

[iceflower]

Day 2 on Sint Maarten today, February 7:


** robinutrecht.photoshelter gallery ** rex gallery ** gtresnews gallery **


** gettyimages gallery: NLD: Dutch Royal Family Tour Of The Dutch Caribbean Islands **

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3ZTDUzTX2o

[Lee-Z]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

The visit to the Color Me SXM mural route in Philipsburg,what beautiful scenery too!

https://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?...2023%20Maarten

Lovely pics, and i think the outfits are really well chosen for the event, love that Amalia wears bright colors and big jewelry, she can totally pull it off

[Muhler]

What a delightful visit this is.

It's good to see all three of them together. You can tell how focused Amalia is in some of the photos. She is taking it all in, observing.
Apart from that it adds to the glamour and dynamics. And I think makes the whole thing a little more relaxed as well.

[doro]

Why St. Eustatius is called Statia?

[Lee-Z]

Originally Posted by doro

Why St. Eustatius is called Statia?

from wiki:
On the first maps that show the island it was called Estatia. Later it was renamed to Saint Anastatia, and in the Caribean itself the island is called Statia. In dutch it is called Sint Eustatius.

(Just like other countries and places have different names in different languages)

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by doro

Why St. Eustatius is called Statia?

It once was Estatia but nowadays the name can best be seen as a little dimunitive from the mouthful Sint Eustatius: "I am from Statia".

[iceflower]

Sint Eustatius is on today's programme, February 8:


** rex gallery ** anp gallery **

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5u0BpfaGEY