Some 400 people attended King’s Day in the Embassy of the Netherlands on April 30, 2019. King’s Day marks the birthday of the current Dutch monarch Willem-Alexander, and is celebrated as a national day in the Netherlands. The King’s day reception was attended by the Dutch community in Riyadh, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of the private and public sector, including sponsors who helped make the event possible.
His Royal Highness the Governor of Riyadh Prince Faisal bin Bandar al Saud was the guest of honor. The Netherlands Ambassador, HE Joost Reintjes, emphasized the importance of the historical ties between Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands, saying: “Saudi-Dutch relations go back a long time; we established a consulate in Jeddah in 1872. Al-Awwal Bank has been active in Saudi Arabia for more than 90 years, and KLM have been flying to Saudi Arabia for more than 70 years.” He also pointed out that Aramco and SABIC both have their regional headquarters in the Netherlands. The event proved to be an excellent showcase of Dutch hospitality as guests enjoyed some of the finest Dutch snacks and were provided with beautiful flowers upon departure.
