King and queen of the Netherlands to visit Philadelphia next week
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will be welcomed by Gov. Josh Shapiro and will be given a tour of Independence Hall.
The king and queen of the Netherlands will visit Philadelphia next Monday with scheduled stops at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School, and the training facility for the Eagles.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will then have dinner that evening at the White House accompanied by Rob Jetten, prime minister of the Netherlands, according to the official announcement. The king and queen will stay the night at the White House and then complete their trip to the United States in Miami.
The 54-year-old queen, who was born in Argentina, drew attention in early February when the royal house announced that she had begun training to become a reserve member of the army in the Netherlands, which is a founding member of NATO.
The age limit to join the Royal Netherlands Army as a reservist is 55. The queen’s decision was viewed as a way to boost military recruitment, though she could technically be called for a deployment.
When the queen and king arrive Monday, they will be welcomed by Gov. Josh Shapiro and first lady Lori Shapiro. The royals will be given a tour of Independence Hall to highlight the 250th anniversary of America’s independence and will visit the Liberty Bell.
The Netherlands provided arms and financial aid to the American Revolution, and was the second country to formally recognize the new United States.
And before the days of William Penn, the Netherlands had a trading outpost in the vicinity of what is now known as Eastwick in Southwest Philadelphia. The outpost was called Fort Beversreede, which means “beavers road” in Dutch.
After visiting Old City, the king and queen will head to the Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School, where they are scheduled to be joined by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.
“Elsewhere in the neighbourhood they will learn about Dutch architecture and murals and talk with local residents,” the royal news release said.
The royal day in the city will end with a trip to the Eagles training facility, which is now officially called the Jefferson Health Training Complex.
There will be a session afterward for sports-related business presentations, and to highlight the participation of the Caribbean island of Curaçao, which is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the 2026 World Cup at Lincoln Financial Field.