At the invitation of His Majesty the King, the Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier will pay a state visit to the Netherlands from Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 June. The president will be accompanied by his wife, Elke Büdenbender.
The state visit underlines the close and wide-ranging relations between both countries, in a political, economic and cultural-historic context. Germany is the Netherlands’ largest trading partner and conversely, the Netherlands is Germany’s third-largest trading partner. The two countries work together closely both bilaterally and within the European Union, United Nations and NATO, and are committed to a resilient Europe that is geopolitical and economically strong.
In July 2021 King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima paid a state visit to Germany.
Tuesday 9 June
Morning
Welcome ceremony
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will officially welcome the German Federal President and Ms Büdenbender to the Netherlands in Dam Square in Amsterdam. After the delegations have been introduced, the Orchestra of the Royal Netherlands Air Force will play both countries’ national anthems. This will be followed by an inspection of the guard of honour. At the Royal Palace in Amsterdam the Dutch dignitaries will be introduced, after which a reception and private lunch will be held.
Wreath-laying
Federal President Steinmeier will lay a wreath at the National Monument in Dam Square.
Statement to the press
King Willem-Alexander and Federal President Steinmeier will give a press statement at the Royal Palace.
Afternoon
National Holocaust Museum
In the afternoon, the royal couple, Federal President Steinmeier and Ms Büdenbender will visit the National Holocaust Museum. They will be given a guided tour and speak with Jewish people about Jewish life in the Netherlands today. Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport Sophie Hermans and Mayor of Amsterdam Femke Halsema will also join this discussion.
Social initiatives
At Resto VanHarte community restaurant in Amsterdam-Oost, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, Federal President Steinmeier and Ms Büdenbender will speak with volunteers and local residents about boosting social cohesion in the neighbourhood, reducing loneliness and improving financial health. The restaurant is one of a range of social initiatives in the neighbourhood that fall under the Sociale Basis Amsterdam Oost grant framework and bring together stakeholders and residents. Volunteers involved in financial health, youth services and women’s emancipation will speak about what they do.
Evening
State banquet
In the evening, the King and Queen will host a state banquet at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. King Willem-Alexander and the German Federal President will both give a speech. Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange and His Royal Highness Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands will also attend the state banquet.
Wednesday 10 June
Morning
International Criminal Court
In the morning Queen Máxima and Ms Büdenbender will visit the International Criminal Court.
Visit to the States General
At the States General in The Hague, the Federal President will meet the President of the Senate and the President of the House of Representatives.
Afternoon
Government lunch
Prime Minister Rob Jetten will host a government lunch for Federal President Steinmeier and Ms Büdenbender at Duivenvoorde Castle in Voorschoten. The lunch will also be attended by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Discussions will focus on Dutch-German bilateral relations, economic and trade relations between the two countries and the importance of innovations and technology. Other topics will include the resilience of our democracies and the rule of law. During the lunch the Prime Minister and the Federal President will each give a speech.
Prior to the government lunch, the Prime Minister, together with Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma and Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Heleen Herbert, will attend a roundtable meeting with CEOs of Dutch and German businesses.
Port of Rotterdam
The Port of Rotterdam is a key gateway to the global market for Germany industry. Around 13% of the Europe’s total demand for energy is fulfilled through the Port of Rotterdam, including through the import and transit of crude oil, LNG and, increasingly, hydrogen. The visit will focus on economic cooperation between the Netherlands and Germany, more sustainable industry and the development of sustainable supply chains for energy and raw materials.
King Willem-Alexander and Federal President Steinmeier will begin their visit to the port with a guided tour of Porthos. Using German-built solutions, the Porthos project transports and compresses Rotterdam port industry carbon emissions in order to store them permanently in depleted natural gas fields under the North Sea. The King and the Federal President will hear about the technical details of the project and visit the compression facilities on the Maasvlakte, before continuing to the Portlantis interactive experience centre on Maasvlakte 2. Here they will find out more about developments in the Port of Rotterdam and partnerships between the Netherlands and Germany in the areas of hydrogen, carbon storage and the Delta Rhine Corridor.
The King and the Federal President will also take a boat tour of the port area. One of the businesses they will pass is Sif, which works closely with German-based Dillinger on the production of steel for wind turbine foundations. While on board they will speak with various CEOs about cooperation on industry, energy and sustainability.
Fenix
Queen Máxima and Ms Büdenbender will visit Fenix, an art museum about migration in Rotterdam. They will be given a tour and speak with artists and staff.
Evening
Return hospitality
In the evening the German Federal President will host a reception and musical performance for the Royal Couple at the German ambassador’s residence in The Hague.
Thursday 11 June
Morning
ASML
In the morning, King Willem-Alexander, Federal President Steinmeier and Ms Büdenbender will visit the ASML campus in Veldhoven. They will tour the Experience Centre, an interactive exhibition explaining how advanced chip machines are developed and how they operate. ASML provides essential technology for the production of advanced chips and consequently has a key role in Europe’s semiconductor industry. This is relevant to Germany’s automotive industry and hightech sector and to strengthening European technological and economic resilience.
VISTA college
After this, the King, the Federal President and Ms Büdenbender will continue to VISTA college, the regional school for secondary vocational education (MBO) in Sittard. Together with Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Pieter Heerma, they will speak with students, teachers and other staff about cross-border cooperation on security, education, the labour market and business climate, and the challenges of studying and working in a border region.
Afternoon
NATO Joint Force Command (JFC) Brunssum
Lastly, Federal President Steinmeier will visit the NATO Joint Force Command Headquarters in Brunssum. Here he will take a tour and meet with staff and soldiers from over 30 countries stationed in Brunssum. He will also visit the Joint Operations Centre. Minister of Defence Dilan Yeşilgöz will accompany him on this visit.
Government Information Service, no. 155