King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was on historical ground Thursday as he visited the German town of Münster in Westphalia. He came to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1st German-Netherlands Corps, and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the happy partnership between the Corps and the City of Münster.
At the same time the King, as a historican, could not pass up the opportunity to remind his German hosts of Dutch history, which was made in this very town in 1648. For three years representatives of the Dutch States-General had negotiated with the Spaniards and on 15 May 1648 both sides signed a peace agreement, ending 80 (!) years of war between the rebellious Dutch United Provinces and the King of Spain.
The independence of the Dutch Republic was finally recognized and with the Peace of Westphalia several months later the European powers followed suit. Mayor Markus Lewe of Münster welcomed the King in the historic Peace Hall in the Town Hall, where the 'Peace of Münster' was signed. Willem-Alexander signed the Golden Book and drank from the Golden Rooster, a wine cup in the shape of a rooster – the symbol of peace for Münster.
Mr Lewe explained why: at one time the enemy laid siege to the city, attempting to force it to surrender by starving the population. The city authorities placed a fat, well fed rooster in top of the city walls, well within sight of the enemy. If the roosters in Münster were that fat, the siege was not working and the enemy retreated...
After the meeting in the Peace Hall or Friedenssaal, which still has its original wooden decorations as they were rescude during the Second World War, the King, Prime Minister Hannelore Kraft of North Rhine Westphalia and the other guest went outside for military ceremonial. The pouring rain could not dampen spirits, but many a German onlooker wondered why the King was not wearing an uniform.
The answer was simple: in the Netherlands a member of the government cannot also be a member of the Armed Forces. Unlike his counterparts in Spain and Belgium, Willem-Alexander is not Commander-in-Chief, and gave up his military positions upon ascending the throne. He does have an uniform however, without distinctives of rank, but he only wears it on Veterans Day.
The present German Commander of the Corps, Volker Halbauer, said the Corps is “something like German organisational skills combined with Dutch pragmatism, surrounded by a good portion of multinational creativity. This unique combination enabled us in the past 20 years to claim a position at the top of High Readiness Force Headquarters within NATO.”
© RB Hans Jacobs from Münster
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