State visit to Kenya - programme
His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima are to pay a state visit to Kenya, at the invitation of President William Ruto. The visit will take place from Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 March 2025. The King and Queen will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Reinette Klever, and the Minister of Defence, Ruben Brekelmans, will also attend some programme events.
The Netherlands and Kenya have maintained close ties for more than 60 years. In recent years strategic and economic relations have deepened. The Netherlands and Kenya have a close economic relationship and are both regional hubs with a large hinterland. Within the UN and other international organisations, too, our two countries work together actively towards goals relating to democracy, the rule of law and independence of the judiciary and on challenges around peace and security, climate change and food security.
Tuesday 18 March
Morning
Welcome ceremony
President Ruto and his wife will welcome the King and Queen at State House with an official ceremony, which will be followed by a tête-a-tête.
Delegation meeting
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and the ministers accompanying them will meet with the Kenyan president and his ministers. After the meeting, the President and the King will give a short statement to the media.
Signing of Memoranda of Understanding
Following the delegation meeting, King Willem-Alexander will attend the signing of Memoranda of Understanding on tourism, trade, security, agriculture and fisheries.
Wreath-laying ceremony
In honour of those who contributed to Kenya’s freedom and independence, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
Dialogue with young people
With 75% of Kenya's population aged under 35, young people play a crucial role in determining the country's future. The royal couple will speak with young Kenyans from a range of backgrounds, who will share their personal experiences and their ideas about Kenya’s future. This dialogue will also touch on the human rights situation in Kenya, good governance and democracy.
Afternoon
Tree-planting ceremony
Kenya leads the way in Africa in climate adaptation and mitigation. It hosted the first Africa Climate Summit in 2023. A campaign is currently underway to plant 15 billion trees by 2032. This will increase the country's forested area and help combat climate change. As a contribution to this campaign, and to underline the Netherlands’ efforts on nature conservation and its cooperation with Kenya on the climate agenda, the King and Queen will plant a tree in a forest in Nairobi. They will also talk with people from the local community, who are deeply committed to protecting the forest.
Business Forum
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will attend the Business Forum, which will focus on the strong economic ties linking the Netherlands and Kenya and where delegates from the parallel missions can meet each other and their Kenyan partners. More than 50 businesses, knowledge institutions and NGOs will be joining the economic missions on sustainable agriculture and water.
During the Business Forum, the King and Queen will discuss key partnerships between the Netherlands and Kenya in the areas of innovation and digitalisation in agriculture, logistics, healthcare, energy and water. They will take part in a roundtable talk with CEOs on the opportunities and challenges associated with doing business in Kenya. The forum will also address the social impact of Dutch initiatives aimed at education and employment for young people in Kenya.
State banquet
In honour of the state visit by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, President Ruto will host a state banquet at State House.
Wednesday 19 March
Morning
Logistics
The King and Queen will visit an inland container depot (ICD), which is a major storage facility for dry export products. The Netherlands is the region’s biggest export market for products such as flowers and avocados. This ICD and the Netherlands are jointly working to make logistical flows for perishables more sustainable, for example by transporting refrigerated goods by rail and ship. The transition from air to maritime freight is already becoming evident at this ICD.
Horticultural sector
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will visit a Dutch horticultural business that is working on sustainable and responsible production. It is also investing in a healthier and more sustainable local ecosystem, and provides childcare and education for its employees’ children.
Afternoon
Climate carousel
In the afternoon the King and Queen will take part in a thematic session on climate change, which will focus on water, climate action and security in Kenya and the wider East African region. Civil society and defence organisations, knowledge institutions and government agencies will present their projects and innovations. Climate change is affecting the availability, distribution and quality of water resources in the region. This presents challenges in terms of human safety, security and wellbeing, economic stability and geopolitical relations.
Evening
Return hospitality
As a token of appreciation for Kenya’s hospitality, the King and Queen will host a cultural programme.
Thursday 20 March
Morning
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is Kenya's highest court and has the final word in legal disputes, constitutional matters and other important cases that have come up through the subordinate courts. The visit will focus on the importance of an independent judiciary in increasing inclusive access to justice, and Dutch-Kenyan initiatives to that end. After a tour of the Judiciary Museum, which showcases the history and development of Kenya’s judicial system, the King and Queen will talk with leading figures in the justice sector, particularly women.
Afternoon
Cooperation on security
The internationally renowned International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) trains military personnel from several African countries to support various UN and African Union missions in Africa. The Netherlands supports the centre by providing training on intelligence in the context of UN peace operations. The visit to the IPSTC will focus on the future of defence cooperation between the Netherlands and Kenya. The King and Queen will also hear about initiatives for combating violent extremism, and about the positive impact mothers and young people can achieve in combating radicalisation.
Reception for the Dutch community
The final day of the state visit will close with a reception for the Dutch community. At the ambassador's official residence the King and Queen will speak with Dutch nationals who live and work in Kenya.
Government Information Service, no. 42