A presidential welcome for Dutch royals (original) (raw)

Sakellaropoulou awards the Dutch king and queen the Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer. [Thodoris Manolopoulos]

At exactly 9 o’clock, everything was ready. The official red carpet was laid out on the street. The honor guard of the Evzones was lined up. Television crews from Greece and the Netherlands were testing the audiovisual feeds, while police officers were stopping cars and pedestrians from entering Irodou Attikou Street. Traffic congestion on Vassililis Sofias Avenue was peaking, as the Dutch king and queen laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier prior to heading to the Presidential Mansion. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, who have a strong affection for Greece, were welcomed with great ceremony. Their visit had been postponed twice, initially in 2021 due to the pandemic and later in March 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but it is finally taking place after they arrived Monday evening for a three-day visit to Athens and Thessaloniki.

‘When we talk about Europe’s borders, your borders are our borders, and this is why it is we must find a solution together’

Queen Maxima wore an elegant hat and a spectacular orange and white dress, as orange is considered the color of the Dutch monarchy, which is descendant of the House of Orange-Nassau. Beside her, standing tall and upright, Willem-Alexander, who ascended to the throne in 2013, was smiling and in high spirits.

“Our countries are connected by enduring bonds of friendship. We are partners in the European Union, allies in NATO, and we have developed excellent relations. I would like to stress that Greece bestows great importance on reinforcing bilateral relations on all levels,” said President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who made extensive remarks on the war in Ukraine and the geopolitical challenges facing Europe.

“Every visit to Greece and Athens for us is like returning home,” said the Dutch king. “Obviously we understand that here the cause, the reason for today’s visit is different. Greece and the Netherlands are linked by enduring bonds, they have important history – for 70 years we have been allies in NATO, for 40 years we have been members of the EU – but obviously the geopolitical circumstances are now different too. I would like, on the occasion of our meeting today, to emphasize that the issue of migration is an issue that concerns all of Europe and thus we must resolve it together. When we talk about Europe’s borders, your borders are our borders, and this is why it is we must find a solution together,” he stressed.

Earlier, in a special ceremony held at the Presidential Mansion, the Greek president awarded the Dutch royals the Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer. In turn, Willem-Alexander awarded the Greek president with the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. The couple later visited the Acropolis and met with Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis at the Technopolis cultural complex.

Maxima (2nd l), Willem-Alexander, Sakellaropoulou and her husband Pavlos Kotsonis at the Presidential Mansion. [Thodoris Manolopoulos]

The Dutch king and queen inspect a guard of honor with President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. [Thodoris Manolopoulos]