“Unfortunately, people in the Netherlands seem to be increasingly at odds with each other,” said King Willem-Alexander in his Speech from the Throne. Not only on the streets or online, but also at universities and in the political arena in The Hague.
(Still: HOP)
In the Speech from the Throne, the King touched on issues that, according to the government, cannot wait for elections and the formation of a new cabinet: from the housing shortage to tackling violence against women.
What is the Speech from the Throne?
Every year on the third Tuesday in September – known as Prinsjesdag – the King or Queen of the Netherlands delivers the Throne Speech. In it the government announces its plans from the upcoming year. Among those present at the deliverance are the ministers, members of the parliament and the royal family. (Delta, KB)
The speech was also about the contradictions in society. People think too black and white, was the message. ‘As if one person’s right automatically implies another’s wrong, while social reality is almost always infinitely more complex than that.’
In that context, the King mentioned, among other things, the universities, which are regularly the scene of fierce pro-Palestinian demonstrations. ‘Many in our country feel deeply involved in the future of Israel and the Palestinians and are extremely concerned about the emergency situation in Gaza,’ said Willem-Alexander. ‘Everyone wants an end to the human suffering as soon as possible. The cabinet fervently hopes – and will also work to ensure – that people do not become even more divided on this issue.’
Festive attire
The Schoof cabinet is outgoing and is now supported by only two parties (VVD and BBB), so it cannot make any major decisions. This is also referred to as a caretaker cabinet. New elections will be held in October.
Those attending the Speech from the Throne had paid a lot of attention to their festive appearance. Some members of the Senate wore red clothes in protest against Israeli violence. BBB leader Caroline van der Plas, on the other hand, chose a dress in the colours of the Israeli flag.
But it wasn’t all about war and peace. Education Minister Gouke Moes put vocational education in the spotlight and had his hair cut by a trainee hairdresser. Moes: ‘This is only the third time in my life that I’ve been to a hairdresser, so this is very special for me and it’s going great, it’s really a lot of fun.’
Science
The guests who accompanied members of parliament also sometimes conveyed a message. In protest against cuts to education and research, Member of Parliament Sandra Beckerman (SP) was accompanied by a scientist: palaeontologist Melanie During.
Television viewers in the Netherlands know this dinosaur researcher with bright pink hair from her participation in De Slimste Mens (The Smartest Person). During also made world news with her discovery that it was spring in the northern hemisphere when the meteorite struck, causing the extinction of the dinosaurs.
After the King’s speech, the Minister of Finance presented the Budget Memorandum. You can read more about this here.
HOP, Bas Belleman
- Read more about the cuts to higher education and TU Delft in our dossier.
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