King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands landed in Pretoria on Wednesday morning for their state visit to South Africa – at the invitation of Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa.
The visit will take place from Wednesday to Friday. The royal couple will be accompanied by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruins Slot, and they will spend the first two days in Pretoria.
The South African Department of Foreign Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) announced the visit on Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter) and says pres. Cyril Ramaphosa will officially welcome the couple at the Union Building in Pretoria on Thursday. After that they will travel to Cape Town.
According to a statement from Het Koninklijk Huis van Nederland, the state visit is about good relations and an equal partnership between the two countries.
“South Africa is one of the Netherlands’ most important partners in Africa in the economic, political, cultural, educational and scientific fields.
“The Netherlands and South Africa are actively working together to find solutions for a more just, inclusive and sustainable future. Based on the shared past, we look forward to a shared future on an equal footing,” reads the statement.
Important themes that will be discussed during the visit include sustainable and inclusive growth, cultural cooperation, human rights and legal equality, as well as knowledge and science exchange.
“A knowledge mission will take place before and during the state visit led by the Dutch minister of education, culture and science.
“An economic mission of future-proof agriculture and horticulture, green hydrogen and circular waste management will also take place and will be led by the Dutch minister of agriculture, nature and food quality.”
