Dutch royal couple to visit Cyprus

Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will arrive in Cyprus on March 4-5 for a two-day state visit at the invitation of President Nikos Christodoulides. This marks the first visit by a Dutch royal couple since Cyprus was established.

The visit follows Christodoulides’ trip to the Netherlands last February and aims to strengthen ties between the two nations. A broad agenda of discussions is planned, covering education, agriculture, archaeology, and tourism.

Ahead of the visit, King Willem-Alexander met with a group of Cypriot journalists at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. He spent 20 minutes engaging with them, answering questions, and sharing his thoughts on the upcoming trip. The discussion was informal, ending with a family-style group photo.

During the meeting, the king acknowledged Cyprus’ key geographical position, highlighting its role as a bridge between the EU, the Middle East and West Africa. He also expressed appreciation for Cyprus’ assistance in evacuating Dutch citizens from crisis-hit areas in the region.

The visit aims to boost student exchanges, with around 700-800 Cypriot students enrolling in Dutch universities annually. Dutch archaeologists also frequently work in Cyprus, particularly in the Paphos district, where Leiden University experts are currently conducting excavations in Palloures, Chloraka.
The king, an avid sailor, showed a keen understanding of Cyprus, mentioning Olympic medalist Pavlos Kontides, who has won medals in three Olympiads in the laser sailing category.

As part of the visit, King Willem-Alexander will travel to the Famagusta district to visit a potato farm, further emphasising the Netherlands’ interest in agricultural cooperation with Cyprus.
This state visit is expected to open new avenues for collaboration between the two nations, strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties.