After sunny Antilles, the royal couple is now on wet Wadden: not for the apple pie, however for a gorgeous gown from the Seventeenth century | present

What to do in case your brief midweek on the Wadden Islands falls into the water? What if the rain retains pouring down throughout your tour of Texel and Vlieland?

How about espresso and a long island slice? Dot whipped cream on prime, perhaps? Not for King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. On Vlieland they converse to residents and workers of care villa De Ton, nearly all of whom have been served apple pie for the special day. I want to, says Willem-Alexander. However he does not. No time for sports activities, the monarch tells his viewers.

In two days, the royal couple will go to 5 Wadden Islands as a part of a regional go to. About twice a 12 months they go to particular areas within the nation to debate native alternatives and issues.

The islands are a logistical problem – most motion is by helicopter. They solely take the categorical service between Vlieland and Terschelling. And even that 20-minute boat journey is used for a dialogue with authorities in regards to the so-called Regio Deal, an formidable plan to maintain the islands accessible and habitable.

Nonetheless stunning the Wadden are, the backdrop can be desolate within the incessant rain. And fairly a distinction with that earlier island tour of the Oranges with eldest daughter Princess Amalia, firstly of this 12 months in that different nook of the dominion: the Antilles.

On Saturday, Willem-Alexander and Máxima have been nonetheless fairly on the entrance of Westminster Abbey, on the historic coronation of their fellow royal couple, now they’re aiding in farmer Bakker’s secure on Texel, amongst his sheep, lambs and chickens.

The royal life can be an existence filled with contrasts.

In one of many first components of the regional go to, two passions of the couple come collectively. Leisure diving and vogue. Within the Kaap Skil museum on Texel, they admire the Seventeenth-century gown that sport divers from the island discovered within the so-called Palmwood wreck on the backside of the Wadden Sea.

It’s a great piece of cultural heritage that Willem-Alexander and Máxima admire extensively. It’s nonetheless unknown who wore her, says museum director Corina Hordijk. It might have belonged to male actors who carried out Shakespeare performs. She then mentioned to Queen Máxima: “That is the primary time I am displaying the gown to somebody who might actually have worn it.” “What if I had been a Shakespearean actor?” requested King Willem-Alexander. Alexander caught. Hordijk: ,,They each regarded excellent on you!”

Divers and the province of North Holland squabbled vigorously to whom the discover belonged. One of many finders, skilled fisherman and leisure diver Gerrit-Jan Beitsma, says that he typically will get tears from the opposite historic objects that at the moment are washed away from the wreck week after week.

Beitsma and the folks of the province would favor to see skilled divers go searching along with pastime divers, however occupational well being and security laws prevents this. The king finds that unusual, he makes clear. “Cannot an expert diver go down in his capability as a sports activities diver on the weekend?”

No, is the reply from the province, a civil servant is there all week. The king, with a wink to Beitsma: ,,Properly, you might be additionally a professor throughout the week and a diver on the weekend, aren’t you?”

Beitsma, instantly: ,,No, that is my brother.”

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