Short remarks by King Willem-Alexander at the end of the state visit of King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, Straat Museum Amsterdam
Your Majesties,
First, I would like to thank you for taking the initiative to organize this wonderful exhibition by Spanish and Dutch muralists in the Amsterdam Straat Museum. The Queen and I have attended many splendid cultural performances during incoming state visits in the past. But never have we been invited to round off a state visit at a venue like this!
Rough, edgy and totally original. We love it! You have broken new ground. And we are already wondering: ‘how will we ever be able to surpass this?’ You have certainly set the bar high!
These past few days with you have just flown by. We have had a very tight schedule and an extremely varied programme. It took us from the Cruyff Court in Betondorp to the Clingendael Institute in The Hague. And from the Energy Terminals in the Port of Amsterdam to the space engineers of ESA Estec.
Your visit did justice to the excellent and close relations between our two countries. Once again we have established how much we have in common as European partners.
The Queen and I are most grateful for the active interest in the Netherlands that you show time and time again. We are also grateful for your friendship. It is extremely dear to us.
We hope to see you again soon, in Spain or in the Netherlands. You will always be welcome.
Hasta la próxima!
And now, may I ask you all to raise a glass with me.
To you both, Your Majesties,
and to our friendship!