The Dutch royal family arrived in Warffum by helicopter just after 10:00 in the morning. The members present were: Queen Beatrix, The Prince of Orange, Princess Máxima, Prince Constantijn, Princess Laurentien, Princess Margriet, Pieter van Vollenhoven, Prince Maurits, Princess Marilène, Prince Bernhard, Prince Pieter-Christiaan and Prince Floris. Prince Friso and Princess Mabel were on honeymoon and the highly pregnant Princess Annette also had to cancel. At House Vriesenstein the royal family was received by Mayor Gerard Renkema of the municipality of Eemsmond. In front of the house the women of the royal family received flowers from two birthdaychildren and three handicapped horse(wo)men. In his speech the Mayor shortly referred to the fact that this is the first Queen's Day that Queen Juliana is no longer alive and of course Pieter van Vollenhoven was congratulated and cheered on his 65th birthday. Four starting shots were fired by four cannons. Cheered by hundreds of people the royal family started its tour through the village of Warffum. Passing schoolchildren who sang a welcoming song for the royal family and children from the balletschool performing 'Spring', the family reached a parkingplace where they spent a while. The living game of draughts got some attention, but especially the male royals seemed to enjoy most a game called 'Neut'n schaiten' (shooting nuts), a traditional Easter game from the province of Groningen, which they tried out. Leaving the parking area a choir sang songs for them while passing on a boat.
While Prince Bernhard enjoyed a cable-way from the scouts, the others reached the old people's home where elderly people were folk-dancing. Queen Beatrix recieved the arms of Warffum in paper-pellets. At the next place on the route youth from the secondary school depicted varous elements of the school with the theme 'moving' - it didn't take long before Princess Máxima was asked to dance along, and she was quickly followed by the Prince of Orange, Princess Laurentien, Princess Marilène and Prince Floris. Passing people performing Tai Chi, and some making corsages of flowers (among others the Prince of Orange received one), and children playing on various musical instruments, a dance group from Togo danced in front of the royal family. At the end of the street Princess Máxima danced on the rythms of the drums of the dance group and soon also Prince Maurits showed his quite good dancing skills. In the main street a choir, art and folklore and again a dancing group. Finally the royals reached the harbour area. Prince Maurits and one of his brothers drove around on a tractor, the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima were touched when hearing the world première of the Princess Amalia March and there was 'of course' darting with 'ploppers' which was enjoyed by several royals. Princess Máxima and Princess Marilène tried out 'beer-glass' shoveling. And Prince Maurits managed to break the record 'jeans hanging', despite of the fact that his brothers and wife tried very hard to get him down. Finally the royal family walked to the railway station to take the royal train to Groningen.
Photos: Netty Leistra