Next week, Princess Beatrix will board a plane for a visit to Aruba and Curacao. Moderator Petra delved into the image banks and made a beautiful overview of all the times Princess Beatrix visited the Caribbean part of the kingdom.
1958 meeting Beatrix
From February 2 to February 17, 1958, 20-year-old Princess Beatrix made a solo visit to the six islands of the Netherlands Antilles. The visit is intended as an introductory visit. Afterwards, the princess travels to Suriname, where she also makes a tour.
1965
In February 1965, Crown Princess Beatrix made another solo visit to the Netherlands Antilles. Since 1954, the six islands have formed their own country, called the Netherlands Antilles. Once again the visit is continued by a trip to Suriname. Suriname was a colony of the Netherlands until 1954, and in that year it became a country within the kingdom. It is therefore easy to explain that Princess Beatrix also visited Suriname as part of the kingdom. Suriname became an independent republic in 1975.
Fun fact: Princess Beatrix wears her engagement dress during the trip (see above). So before the engagement.
1966 introduction to Claus
On June 28, 1965, the engagement of Princess Beatrix and Claus von Amsberg was announced. The couple married almost nine months later, on March 10, 1966. Of course, that is a good reason for a new visit to the islands. Beatrix and Claus visit all six islands together.
1980
On April 30, 1980, Beatrix became Queen of the Netherlands. This of course includes a visit to the islands. The time came in October that year. Beatrix and Claus leave together for the Antilles.
1987
In 1986, Aruba, one of the six islands of the then Netherlands Antilles, became an independent country. From that moment on, Queen Beatrix is queen of three countries: the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The following year, in 1987, Queen Beatrix, Prince Claus and Prince Willem-Alexander visit Aruba. It is an introductory visit for the Prince of Orange. The trio also visits the other five islands, or the Netherlands Antilles.
1992
In November 1992, Queen Beatrix, Prince Claus and their three sons traveled to the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba for a working visit of no less than two weeks.
1999 the windswept haircut
In November 1999, Beatrix and Claus are on a working visit to the Antilles, when they are confronted with the consequences of Hurricane Lenny. This hurricane rages right past St. Maarten. Beatrix and Claus are in Curaçao at that moment. The damage is also extensive there, as well as on Saba and St. Eustatius. The program of this working visit will therefore be considerably adjusted. From this visit to the Antilles we know the photos of Queen Beatrix with the windswept hairstyle.
2001 Windward Islands
Until now, all islands have always been visited during a working visit. But from January 20 to 24, 2001, Queen Beatrix will only visit the Windward Islands: Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Prince Claus can no longer participate due to his health.
2005 anniversary visit
In the context of her 25th anniversary of reign, Queen Beatrix will be present at the closing of the Kingdom Games in Curaçao. The other islands are not visited.
2006
Fortunately, the following year, in November 2006, Beatrix visited all six islands: the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.
Good to know:
The Netherlands Antilles will be dismantled in 2010. From that moment on, Sint Maarten and Curaçao are also independent countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Aruba already was. From this moment on, Queen Beatrix is queen of four countries: the Netherlands, Sint Maarten, Curaçao and Aruba. The other islands form special municipalities within the Netherlands. Together, all six islands form the Caribbean Netherlands.
To mark this occasion, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima board a plane to the Caribbean.
2011
Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima will pay a ten-day visit to the Caribbean part of the kingdom in 2011.
2014
After her abdication in 2013, Princess Beatrix regularly visits the Caribbean part of our kingdom. In May 2014, Princess Beatrix will open the Kingdom Youth Parliament. This takes place during a three-day visit to Sint Maarten, in connection with the 200th anniversary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
2015
The following year, Princess Beatrix returns to the Antilles. This time the trip goes to Curaçao, where they will visit the war exhibition ‘Guera na Kòrsou?!; War in Curaçao 1940-1945’ opens in Willemstad.
2017
Princess Beatrix will visit Aruba from March 30 to April 1, 2017. She is here on a working visit, at the invitation of the Arikok National Park. This park is part of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), of which Princess Beatrix is patron. During her stay she also visits the Spanish Lagoon, the Bubaliplas and the University of Aruba.
2018
In November 2018, Princess Beatrix will visit Bonaire for 3 days. She visits the island at the invitation of the Bonaire National Parks Foundation. This organization is responsible for the management of the national parks on Bonaire. The foundation is a member of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance, of which Princess Beatrix is patron.
2019
Princess Beatrix’s visit to Saba and St. Eustatius in 2019 focuses on nature conservation and social cooperatives.
2021
In November 2021, Beatrix will travel to Curaçao and Aruba. During this three-day working visit, she will be present, among other things, at the reopening of the Curaçao Marine Park. This is a park that must protect the maritime environment of Curaçao. The working visit mainly focused on nature conservation and the effects of the corona pandemic.
Since the abdication, Princess Beatrix only visits one or two islands at a time. Although this is less intensive, it does offer more space to go into depth. And, you see Princess Beatrix enjoying herself! After the abdication, all islands were discussed. And of course we hope that Princess Beatrix can go that way often!
