The scene could not be more Dutch. Princess Beatrix travelled to the south-western province of Zeeland (from where New Zealand gets its name) to inaugurate the province's annual Windmill Day - a day to draw attention to the existence and preservation of its many windmills.
The small community of Waarde welcomed the former Queen as if she was still queen of the Netherlands, with music, a band and hundreds of school children with flags.
The choice of location was not random. Beatrix' husband Prince Claus had been here before, in 1993 to officially open the windmill 'De Hoed', which had been relocated and carefully restored to its former glory.
It was thus that Princess Beatrix after listening to speeches about windmill conservation and restauration, and hoisting the flag of the Zeeland Windmill Association, which celebrates its 40th anniversary, was asked the Guest Book of the windmill, and was able to sign next to her late husband autograph.
Princess Beatrix became patron of the Dutch Windmill Assocation in 2014, following the ultimely death of her second son Prince Friso. He in turn had succeeded his father Prince Claus as patron of 'De Vereniging Hollandsche Molen.'
© RB; Photos by © RPE Albert Nieboer; MPE Patrick van Katwijk
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