State visit by the President of France – programme
At the invitation of His Majesty the King, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, will pay a state visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 April 2023. The President will be accompanied by his wife Brigitte Macron.
The French President’s visit to the Netherlands will reaffirm the excellent ties between the two countries. The state visit will help to further deepen their cooperation, including joint efforts by France and the Netherlands to make Europe stronger, greener and safer. As part of this, the two countries are working together towards European strategic autonomy while preserving an open economy, which will enhance the EU’s security and make it less dependent. An Innovation and Sustainable Growth pact will also be signed.
Delegations from the Dutch and French governments will hold government consultations in the margins of the state visit. The Netherlands and France will be making plans for far-reaching cooperation in the years ahead in certain key areas. The first round of government consultations, which are intended to build on the existing friendship and cooperation between the two countries and take it to a higher level, took place in Paris in March 2022.
In 2016 the King and Queen paid a state visit to France.
Tuesday 11 April, Amsterdam-The Hague-Amsterdam
Morning
Welcome ceremony
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will officially welcome President and Mrs Macron on Dam Square in Amsterdam. After the delegations have been introduced, the Marine Band will play the national anthems of France and the Netherlands and there will be an inspection of the guard of honour. Representatives of the Dutch authorities will then be introduced at the Royal Palace, followed by a reception and a private lunch with the King and Queen.
Wreath-laying ceremony
President Macron will lay a wreath at the National Monument on Dam Square to commemorate the fallen.
Afternoon
Visit to the States General
President Macron will visit the States General in The Hague. The President will meet with Jan Anthonie Bruijn, President of the Senate, and Vera Bergkamp, President of the House of Representatives.
Evening
State banquet
In the evening the King and Queen will host a state banquet at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. The King and President Macron will deliver speeches.
Wednesday 12 April, Amsterdam
Morning
Science Park
During a visit to the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam the focus will be on Dutch-French cooperation in the fields of quantum technology, semiconductors and photonics. The Netherlands is an international hub and expertise centre for quantum technology and its applications. Together with France, the Netherlands is working on European open strategic autonomy in this area, which will enhance the EU’s security and make it less dependent. The King and President Macron will be visiting the Quantum Gases & Quantum Information Lab, where there will be a presentation on the possibilities of quantum technology.
The King and President Macron will then attend a roundtable discussion with CEOs, academics and investors on the importance of strengthening the European ecosystem for deep tech in the context of the European Chips Act and quantum technology.
MIND Us
Queen Máxima and Brigitte Macron will visit a walk-in centre for young people in Amsterdam, where they will learn more about young people’s mental health and the objectives and chosen approach of MIND Us, of which Queen Máxima is honorary chair.
Afternoon and evening
Government consultations
The government consultations between delegations of the Dutch and French governments will take place during a dinner at the Rijksmuseum. Themes including foreign affairs, defence, the economy, innovation, energy, migration and academic research will be discussed. The government members will have bilateral talks with their counterparts in the afternoon. Prime Minister Rutte and President Macron will have their meeting during a boat trip.
Vermeer exhibition
Prior to the government consultations, the King and Queen will join President and Mrs Macron in a visit to the Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum, at the invitation of Prime Minister Rutte. The exhibition comprises the largest number of works by Johannes Vermeer ever to have been displayed together.
After visiting the exhibition, Queen Máxima and Brigitte Macron will have dinner with several women executives during a boat trip.
Government Information Service, no. 80
Photos state visit
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