King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands are due to visit Trinity’s Old Library on June 13 as part of a state visit to Ireland next month.
During their time in Trinity, the royal couple will take time to view the 1916 Proclamation of the Republic, the Brian Boru harp, and the historic Dutch “Fagel Collection”, which has been part of the library’s collection since 1802. The National Library of the Netherlands and Trinity are currently working on a joint project to provide digital access to the Fagel Collection.
The couple are to visit Ireland from June 12-14, spending the first two days in Dublin and the third day in Cork. The purpose of the three day visit is to strengthen economic and cultural ties between Ireland and the Netherlands in advance of Brexit.
The royal visit will commence with a tree planting ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin, followed by the laying of a wreath in the Garden of Remembrance. The couple’s time in Ireland is also due to include a meeting with the Taoiseach, and the Lord Mayor’s of both Dublin and Cork.
The meeting with the Taoiseach will be followed by the signing of a revised tax treaty by the Irish and Dutch Governments. The treaty is aimed at avoiding double taxation of income and capital gains and preventing tax evasion and avoidance.
The royal couple are also set to visit Dublin’s Silicon Valley and Botanic Gardens.
The Dutch king told Irish journalists in the Hague that there would be a shift in northwestern Europe after Brexit and that closer relations between countries in the region would be needed post-Brexit, but the UK and the Netherlands would remain friends. He added that he hopes Ireland and the Netherlands could act to reduce the shock of Brexit for the rest of the EU.
In parallel with the state visit, the Dutch minister for foreign trade and development cooperation, Sigrid Kaag, will be leading an economic mission aimed at enhancing the potential for economic cooperation. The mission will comprise a delegation of business leaders from the maritime infrastructure and port development sectors.
Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden visited the Science Gallery at Trinity last week as part of her and her husband, King Carl XVI Gustaf’s three day state visit to Ireland.
