With a war at the gates of the European Union and another in the Eastern shore of the Mediterranean, the kings began their first state trip to the Netherlands this Wednesday. And both conflicts, and their consequences for the Old Continent, have been very present in the speech that Felipe VI gave during the gala dinner that King William Alexander and King Máxima Zorreguieta offered at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. “The world needs a strong and united Europe,” said the Spanish monarch in clear reference to the role that the Union now plays in the world.
Felipe VI has clearly referred to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Gaza conflict – extended to the entire Middle East region – as one of the most recent “challenges” that Europe now faces as a “free and democratic society, which believes in the rule of law and norms based on the international order.” In fact, the star topic on Felipe de Borbón's agenda is the strategic autonomy of Europe, for which he visited the port of Amsterdam today, where green hydrogen is expected to begin arriving in 2030 from the port of Bilbao through the second maritime corridor in Europe – the first will connect Algeciras with Rotterdam in 2026 – of this type promoted by Brussels precisely to break its dependence on Moscow.
The war in Ukraine has highlighted the needs that some partners, especially the Baltic republics, Germany and the Eastern countries, continue to have with Russia and the monarch discovers in his speeches the way forward as partners and allies. “Our prosperity and peace rest on [el hecho de pertenecer] to the EU and NATO,” said the King in a speech delivered entirely in English.
The monarch also wanted to have a few words to vindicate the work of the head of state in a parliamentary monarchy like the Dutch and Spanish. “The task of monarchs in our modern and democratic societies is something that we also share, as we do with our objectives and efforts in favor of stability, continuity, political neutrality and the common good of our people; now so closely linked by our great bilateral exchanges and our common membership in the EU and NATO,” he maintained.
Queen Letizia's injury
In the hand kiss with the Dutch authorities prior to the dinner and the speech, Queen Letizia gave the surprise by appearing seated due to an ailment in her left foot. It is due to a Morton's neurema, which is added to a metatarsalgia that she has suffered for a long time. Furthermore, tonight the heiress Amalia of Orange has occupied a prominent role since it has been her debut in an event of this caliber as the future head of the Dutch State.
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At 10:24 in the morning, the first state visit of the year by Felipe de Borbón and Letizia Ortiz officially began. It was in the central Dam Square of Amsterdam, where the national anthems were played and the traditional review of the Guard of Honor was carried out by both monarchs, while their wives – who are in great harmony – waited in the platform with the rest of the authorities. The acting Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, and the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, have also accompanied the delegation from both heads of state. The brief ceremony was followed by the traditional floral offering at the national monument to those who fell in the Second World War, at the other end of the square, where the Spanish monarchs endured the pertinent minute of silence undaunted under heavy rain. .
After the wreath-laying in Amsterdam's Dam Square, Philip VI and King William moved to one of the sports fields of the Cruyff Foundation, located in the hometown of the Dutch football legend, Johan Cruyff. It is perhaps the most emblematic location of the social work undertaken by the player, son of a family of humble origins. Soccer made him famous and a millionaire but he knew how to see the integrative power of sport.
Both monarchs have followed the games of children with disabilities, in need of a walker or with neurological problems, for about now. Supported by their instructors, they played a match with an enthusiasm that has infected the kings. Don Felipe and the Dutch sovereign took a kick-off, tried to dunk a basketball and bumped fists non-stop with the minors, under intermittent rain, Isabel Ferrer reports.
Created in 1997, the Cruyff Foundation today has more than 300 of these sports fields in the world integrated into the life of the neighborhood. Some are designed for the special needs of users, and Jordi and Susila Cruyff, the footballer's children, have received the two heads of state. “We have seen that sport not only unites children but also countries,” she said. “My father played in the Netherlands and Spain and was born next door: this is a very special place.” Guus Hiddink, former soccer player, former coach of Real Madrid, South Korea, among others, and one of the ambassadors of the foundation, has added that these initiatives are very important to instill values and to promote social integration.”
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