Statement by King Willem-Alexander with President Petr Pavel at the start of the state visit to the Czech Republic, Prague
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen,
The Queen and I are delighted to be paying a state visit to the Czech Republic.
Mr President, thank you for your warm welcome and for your hospitality.
Prague feels very close to home for us. Partly, of course, because the distance between Amsterdam and Prague is less than 800 kilometres.
But a more important reason why we feel so at home here is the like-mindedness of our countries. A shared understanding that has gained even greater significance due to the unstable situation in the world. In times of tension and uncertainty, people reach out to their friends. And so, here we are…
Our goal is to make our bond of friendship even stronger. A goal that stems from our great respect for your wonderful country. Respect for your history. Respect for your culture. Respect for the role that Czechia plays in protecting all that we hold dear in Europe: our freedom, our security and our prosperity.
Anyone who knows Czechia’s turbulent history will understand why your country is so committed to a strong NATO, an effective EU and a free and secure Ukraine.
The years 1938, 1948, 1968 and 1989 are etched not only in your memories but also in ours. We can all learn from what took place here.
Yet while we bear that history in mind, our visit is also very much about our shared future.
We see your country as an indispensable partner as we work to foster a secure and strong Europe where everyone can build a decent life for themselves, whether they live in a big city or in the countryside.
We want to deepen our defence cooperation and take new steps to strengthen the ties between our economies. Fantastic opportunities lie within our grasp because we complement each other so well: Czechia as an industrial powerhouse and the Netherlands as a high-tech hub.
Effective defence and a strong economy are crucial to our resilience. But so are upholding the values of our democracy and the rule of law. These are topics that we will also be reflecting on.
And of course we mustn’t forget culture! We have a surprise planned for you at the end of the visit, which will bring together the very best of Czech and Dutch dance culture.
Mr President, thank you again for your warm hospitality. We’re looking forward to the rest of our visit!