Princess Margriet and her husband Pieter van Vollenhoven will officially open the Games of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dakota, on the Caribbean island of Aruba, Saturday evening.
The Canada born younger sister of Dutch Queen Beatrix, and her husband arrived on the neighbouring of Curaçao Thursday and they continue their journey to Aruba on Saturday. Professor Van Vollenhoven will also visit the islands of Saint Eustatius and Saba after his stay on Aruba, an island just off the coast of Venezuela.
The ‘Koninkrijksspelen’ or ‘Kingdom Games’ bring together youth from the three constituent parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands: the Netherlands, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. The games are held every two years.
These games will be the last one with three countries participating, as the Netherlands Antilles will cease to exist as a separate country next year. The islands of Curaçao and Saint Martin will gain the same semi-independent status as Aruba and the three remaining islands in the Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba) will come under administration from The Hague.
Princess Margriet on Sunday will inaugurate the new Arikok national park of Aruba and later that day she will open the new archeological museum in Oranjestad. The royal couple is also to attend a cultural event in connection with the Games on Monday.
© RB; Photo by © Monarchy Press Europe, Patrick van Katwijk
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