On 25 September, King Willem-Alexander visited Münster to mark two special anniversaries: the thirtieth anniversary of both the Haus der Niederlande and the 1st German-Netherlands Corps (1 GNC). The visit highlighted the close ties between the Netherlands and Germany, which are also reflected in the Dutch-German Innovation Pact. Through this pact, both countries jointly invest in knowledge, security and economic growth.
Visit to the Haus der Niederlande
The Haus der Niederlande is home to, among others, the Zentrum für Niederlande-Studien, the Institut für niederländische Philologie and a library with the largest collection of Dutch literature in Germany. Following a plenary programme, the King visited the exhibition Niederlande in 3D, which highlighted cross-border cooperation through four themes: the Dutch language, Europe & politics, literature and the library, and economic cooperation in the border region. The Euregional Continuous Learning Path (EDL) was also presented, which prepares pupils and students for a career in the border area.
Visit to the 1st German-Netherlands Corps
In the afternoon, the King, together with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, visited the 1st German-Netherlands Corps. This fully integrated NATO headquarters, also celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, has developed into a binational partnership now integrating military personnel from twelve countries. The Corps has the capability to command an international force of over 50,000 troops in crisis areas.
The full report of the visit can be found on the website of the Dutch Royal House:
Read the report (Dutch)
