King and Queen at celebration 100 year general election law. Premier Manuela Schwesig looks on as HM King Willem-Alexander signs the regional guestbook – Picture by Staatskanzlei Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Monday, 20 May 2019, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Federal Republic of Germany: Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands were welcomed to Germany at the State Chancery of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania by the federal state’s Premier Manuela Schwesig and her spouse Stefan Schwesig for a formal acquaintance, followed by a luncheon offered by Premier Schwesig at the Orangerie in Schwerin Castle.
Both King Willem-Alexander and Premier Schwesig held allocutions during the luncheon. Thereafter Their Majesties paid a visit to the state’s Diet, wherein they were greeted by the Speaker Sylvia Bretschneider.
Afterwards, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima headed to the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW). The IOW is part of the Leibniz-Community, a network of German research institutes. During the visit, workshops took place in collaboration with Dutch partners, including the University of Utrecht and Deltares on various aspects of coastal protection. Central to the IOW’s research programme is the pollution of the coast by macro- and microplastics in the Baltic Sea.
On Monday evening a trade dinner was held in the Kurhaus in Warnemünde with the participants of the maritime trade mission, and other programme components such as coastal protection and agriculture.
On the morning of Tuesday, 21 May, the Royal Couple paid a visit to MV Werften in Rostock, where cruise ships are being built. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima were given a guided tour of the 850,000 m2 site, focusing on the craftsmanship within the company and the training of young people who are following a learning and working trajectory.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Royal Couple visited a field stone barn “Die Scheune” in the village of Bollewick, exemplary for rural regions in terms of development and demographics. In the cow barn, which has been converted into a cultural and market centre, a meeting is held on the challenges of rural areas in decline.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima encountered to the Honorary Mayor of Bollewick as well as the initiators of various projects in the field of care, social participation and work and education in rural areas.
For further information:
