It’s time for a regional visit again. Today the Royal Couple visits Het Hogeland. In this blog you can read more about the program and the clothing.
The Hogeland is a region in the north of Groningen, bordering the Wadden Sea. The region owes its name to the high altitude of the land, caused by siltation from the sea. The vast, agricultural landscape is characterized by salt marshes with a great diversity of flora and fauna and mounds that were created to protect buildings and livestock during high water. The Royal Couple makes this visit to discuss the cultural and natural history heritage, the opportunities and challenges in the agricultural sector and fishing and social cohesion and quality of life in the region.
Winsum: social cohesion and cultural-historical heritage
The Royal Couple starts the day with a visit to the Tirrel mini-society. The building houses various organizations in the social domain, such as healthcare, education and sports. This makes the Tirrel a meeting place for everyone in the village. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will receive a tour of the building and meet nurses, students and residents, among others. Finally, the Royal Couple officially opens the Tirrel together with a number of users of the complex. The Royal Couple then visits the historic center of Winsum. Winsum was named the most beautiful village in the Netherlands by the ANWB in 2020. The village has a protected villagescape with various national monuments. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima take a short walk along the cultural-historical heritage with two village guides and meet local entrepreneurs.
Zoutkamp: shrimp fishing
The Royal Couple then visits Zoutkamp. Zoutkamp was originally a fishing port and is still known for shrimp fishing. This professional group has to deal with tightened nitrogen standards and regulations due to the Wadden Sea as a Natura 2000 area. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are welcomed to Zoutkamp by the so-called Shrimp Queen and meet, among others, a shrimp peeler and a net maker who explain their work and the situation in Zoutkamp. In the Fisheries Museum, the Royal Couple will then discuss with fishermen about the difficulties in shrimp fishing, but also about the possibilities and future prospects.
Noordpolderzijl: coast, salt marsh and nature management
The hamlet of Noordpolderzijl is located on the Wadden Sea and has the smallest seaport in the Netherlands. The harbor is only accessible at high tide. At low tide the harbor is completely dry. The Natura 2000 area has extensive grasslands with a rich insect life and is a resting and breeding place for various bird species. A ranger from Natuurmonumenten leads the Royal Couple walking through the salt marsh and along the sea wall. He explains the flora and fauna and the management of this area where land and sea meet.
Stedum: agricultural sector
In Stedum, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima visit a dairy farm. After a short tour of the cows, with an explanation of the activities and innovations in the company, a discussion will take place with a number of farmers from the municipalities of Eemsdelta and Het Hogeland about the current situation and the future of agriculture in the region. Themes such as agricultural entrepreneurship, innovation, the environment, nitrogen and the transition to more organic forms of agriculture are discussed.
Bedum: living environment and reorganization
Finally, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will visit the largest village in the municipality of Het Hogeland. Bedum, like Winsum, has a protected villagescape that is determined by the tower of the Walfriduskerk. It is 4.2 degrees out of plumb, making it more leaning than the Tower of Pisa. The Royal Couple meets a number of residents who talk about the central function of Bedum and their experiences with and the consequences of the municipal reorganization in 2019. The opportunities for the village and the role and proximity of the government are discussed.
Fashion
Máxima wears a lace dress with a short lining from Elie Saab during the regional visit.
The first photo:
More information will follow.
