Joy in the Netherlands when on 10 April 2007 the third daughter of Willem-Alexander, the Prince of Orange, and his wife Princess Máxima of the Netherlands was born.
Princess Máxima was admitted to the Bronovo Hospital in The Hague at 3.45pm on 10 April to await the birth of her third child. Half an hour after the birth the communiqué about the birth of the child was released:
“Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands has this evening, Tuesday 10 April 2007 at 22.00 given birth to a daughter at the Bronovo Hospital in The Hague. We are very grateful for the birth of this healthy child, according to the father, the Prince of Orange.
At birth the newborn daughter weighed 4135 gramms. The baby’s length is 52 cm.
Mrs M.J.G.H. Smeets, gynaecologist, and Mrs J.H. Kreijen-Meinesz, Children’s Doctor-Neonatologist, assisted the Princess during the delivery.”
The next morning at 9.15am the couple and their newborn daughter returned home to Villa De Eikenhorst in Wassenaar. Shortly before Prince Willem-Alexander had presented his daughter to the press. On Friday 13 April at 10am the Prince of Orange gave officially notice of the birth of his daughter at the old City Hall at the Groenmarkt in The Hague. That was also the moment the names of the baby were announced: Her Royal Highness Ariane Wilhelmina Máxima Ines Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau.
Like after the first two Princesses Amalia and Alexia were born, the NS (national railway) celebrated the birth of Ariane with a special train. After her name became known a special train called the “Prinses Ariane Express” drove from Groningen – my home town – to The Hague. After the name was announced stickers were created with the full name of the train on it. On a platform in Groningen the name was stuck on the first part of the train itself – an interesting process which I followed closely. Just before the train left a few people arrived with boxes with nice cakes. During the trip travellers were presented with orange cakes with a stork on top. The train left the central station of Groningen at 1.42pm with me on board. I just travelled to Assen, the next station, and then back home to Groningen, but of course not without having tried one of the cakes. Upon arrival in The Hague there were more cakes by the way.
