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Netherlands in warm, personal partnership with Indonesia
The mark: The signed act of abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands is seen after the official meeting at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on Tuesday
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The mark: The signed act of abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands is seen after the official meeting at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on Tuesday. The Netherlands celebrated Queenâs Day on Tuesday, which also marked the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of her eldest son Willem-Alexander. (Reuters/Pool) (Reuters/Pool)
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span class="inline inline-none">The mark: The signed act of abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands is seen after the official meeting at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on Tuesday. The Netherlands celebrated Queen's Day on Tuesday, which also marked the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of her eldest son Willem-Alexander. (Reuters/Pool)
The Netherland's newly crowned King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima were unequivocal in their support for the partnership between Indonesia and the European kingdom in their desire to maintain warm, personal, bilateral relations, a diplomat said.
'In a recent interview, the [present] king underlined the flexible, evolving nature of the monarchy. It was his wish to build on continuity, but with the focus firmly on the demands and challenges of the 21st century,' Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Tjeerd de Zwaan told The Jakarta Post during a reception to celebrate the coronation of the new Dutch king on Tuesday.
The former prince said the monarchy served as a symbol of the nation, and, in order to play that role it should retain its relevance.
De Zwaan said that Queen Maxima was no stranger to Indonesia as she a well known advocate for inclusive finance for development. In that capacity, she visited Jakarta in 2012, and more recently Bali during the fourth high-level panel on the post-2015 Millenium Development Goals [MDGs] agenda.
'On both occasions she met President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and cabinet members, who wish her to continue her international activities,' said de Zwaan.
'It was a compressed visit of two, three days, but she loved every minute of it. That is why she wanted to return. I have no doubt that she'll be back,' he added.
When asked whether the king's expertise in water management could be of use in Indonesia, the ambassador said it would be a possibility.
'The king is indeed an expert in the field. However, the Netherlands is already very involved in the water management in Jakarta, for example through the Jakarta Coastal Defense plan. We are already there and we intend to continue to be present,' he said.
This year, the Dutch would also celebrate 200 years of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Queens last visit to Indonesia was in 1995.
In her address to the nation on Jan. 28, (then) queen Beatrix announced her intention to step down in favor of her son, Willem-Alexander, the Prince of Orange.
In the statement, the queen explained that it was not because of the burden of her office but rather to make way for the next generation.
'This sums up the approach of the monarchy that has been the hallmark of her reign. The combined strength of tradition, continuity and relevance as a stabilizing force in a rapidly changing environment,' said de Zwaan. (asw)
