King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima paid a regional visit to Friesland on Thursday 17 September. The Royal Couple visited the municipalities of Opsterland, Smallingerland and Ooststellingwerf. The regional visit focused on the future of the province of Friesland, with an emphasis on sustainability, the agricultural sector and the Frisian language and culture. In the south-east Friesland region, industry, healthcare and agriculture are important sectors of the economy.
During the first part of the regional visit, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima met with organizations that are committed to sustainable entrepreneurship in order to exchange knowledge and discuss cooperation on ecological issues. Afterwards, the King and Queen met with young farmers to have a conversation about the future of agriculture in Friesland and the challenges encountered by the new generation in this sector.
The second part of the visit focused on the Frisian language and culture. The King and Queen attended a lesson in Frisian at a secondary school and then met with representatives of regional initiatives that want to strengthen the position of Frisian in education and in society. Queen Maxima wore a new dress from Natan.
Natan Dress
Like the Natan dress. Suites her well and again makes her stand out in a crowd.
ReplyDeleteThis hat is exhibit N° 2 of her autumn collection. Exhibit N° I can be found on this blog with her visit to the opening of the Theater Zuidplein in Rotterdam about two days ago.
Can't wait for N°3.
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What a silly outfit to wear for bike riding. Heels, dress and a hat big enough to fit a small country into, let alone a gust of wind. The countryside looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteI suspect Queen Max did not expect to be riding a bike that day. Notice that the lady in red isn't dressed for biking either. I applaud Max being game and riding with a smile.
DeleteThat's how we roll in Holland;) no matter what you are wearing or what the weather is like, the bike is our favoured mode of transport;)
DeleteI agree with you. Her choice of clothing did not fit this occasion. Her hat reminded me of an old American television show "The Flying Nun". It was before my time, but have seen it in reruns. If Maxima's hat were white, she could be the flying nun.
DeleteLady M
Suprize! I t is quite normal here even if dressed to the nines to transport yourself on a bicycle. Girls go out at night to discos and bars (friendly thing to do here to meet with ones friends on a Friday night) with tight short skirts, stilt high, high heals etc. in pouring rain or burning sun. It beats me how they do it peddling along often without their hands on the handlebars apping away on a phone and do not come to grief very often. I think babies are trained to ride before they walk here. At any rate they certainly do sit on mummy or daddy's bicycle in front just behind the handle bars or behind long before they learn to walk. Very young children also go to school on a bicycle often without adults with them. It is just part of life here.
DeleteHa, Lady M, you are right...like the flying nun, who also rode a bike from time to time!
DeleteMeshall
Maxima looks fab, and in true Dutch style and spirit, she hopped on a bike when the unexpected situation arose and joined her countrymen to do as thousands do every day. How much more endearing can one be in one's own country? Brava! I say.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Totally inappropriate outfit, surprised she did not take flight with that hat.
DeleteRenee
Love the colors and outfit from the waist up. How great (and appropriate) this Queen looks in oranges. I just want to tuck in the drape so the belt is shown. I think the single drape thing like this and the one on Mary’s blue coat from before are just not my thing. Different shoes too- these almost look velvet or satiny on my monitor.
ReplyDeleteI had a different take on the bike and thought what good sports they both are- after all it is the Netherlands and riding bikes is so very commonplace.
Glo
Agree with everything you said, Glo. The drape thing and what good sports they are.
Delete- Anon 9:13
The Queen surely did not know she would be riding a bike. However, she seemed to take it in stride. She will never be overlooked in a crowd! Love her dress, hat and shoes.
ReplyDeleteTo me Máxima's style is most of the time too much of everything.
ReplyDeleteThe Dutch are a bit frugal by nature and so is the way they dress in general. One of the reasons why Máxima is so popular in the Netherlands, is because she is so un-Dutch in the way she dresses.
The Queen has courage! I could not go on a bike-ride like this, ha ha. She looks fine and relaxed in that dress. And hats are defin. the best accessoires for Maxima :)
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, but did she know there would some bike riding?
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this outfit, color, style, glamour... at the same time I find it so out of place, one of the keys of elegance is wearing appropriate clothing for the occasion, climate and proper sizing. On this particular instance I find the Queen beautiful but somewhat ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteExactly why I do not admire mylady’s dress sense..... it is always bordering on the rediculous. Nobody, not even other royals, with the exception of Queen Elizabeth, is wearing hats anymore all the time, let alone these enormous ones. The same holds for the ever present and equally rediculous gloves... All so “made up queen style”...
DeleteBut since the Dutch themselves (I am Dutch myself) are the worst dressers and least elegant people ever, with not the slightest idea of chic, they love this....kind of clever on her part I must admit
Lily T. ..... who else, haha
Great dress in a fantastic color. Love that his tie matches her dress. I give her points for riding a bike in those heels! I like her earrings and purse. I wouldn't wear a hat that big but Maxima looks great in it.
ReplyDeleteE.B.B.
It could not have come as a surprise to them that they would be riding bikes during their visit. Why in the world would do we see three women in dresses, hats and heels, holding their handbags (!), biking around the countryside? At least Willem-Alexander cuffed his pant leg. I think back to visits by William and Kate, when they are participate in a sporting activity, and they bring a change of clothes, or dress down in order to more comfortably participate. It may be as simple as Kate wearing pants instead of a dress, then changing into sneakers for the activity, and switching her shoes back afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this Natan design is as offensive as so many others she owns. It does emphasize her tummy because it is belted. I am not sure why she feels the gloves are necessary. They can't be because of the virus because she doesn't wear a mask. I think it is more of a "queen" thing. I am happy yet again to see her hair up, whether in an updo or tucked into a hat.
With regard to gloves, the protocol says that if you wear a hat you have to wear gloves, yes ou yes
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DeleteThere is no such rule.
DeleteOk Pi, we got it.
DeleteLike the dress, love the hat which seems to be a frequent one. Did nobody mention the cycling to them beforehand as it was the best dress for cycling in!
ReplyDeleteObviously I meant NOT the best dress to cycle in!
DeletePas vraiment pratique pour faire du vélo avec une robe, des escarpins et surtout un sac à mains qui peut la déséquilibrer ; nous pouvons voir quand-même que Maxima a assuré !
ReplyDeleteyour obvious not dutch
ReplyDeleteNot obvious who your comment is directed at.
DeleteTotal respect to Queen Maxima for cycling in that hat., wearing those heels and carrying a handbag. She is a real star. Just love her. Also love the hat and this Natan dress is a great colour and a flattering shape. It's a little on the long side but she can get away with it with those great shoes. Lovely photo of the couple together sitting at a desk.
ReplyDeleteFriesland my love! Been there for summer holidays twice - only came back two weeks ago. So my heart goes out for this. I think Maxima is quite cool and fits perfectly into her chosen home country. She has her style and is always so herself. Like it or not. Urban Outlander
ReplyDeleteWell said, Anon 11:57! Agree with you 100%
Delete- Anon 9:13
These visits into the provinces are very thoroughly prepared with the royal couple, so they knew they would go on bike.
ReplyDeleteBeside that: I think the dress is very good and suits her.
Can anybody teach her to put her feet together and how to wear a handbag: I think it is a pity for the overall picture that her posture is just not elegant.
Riding a bike in heels isn´t difficult. Also, the dress isn´t a problem, nor the tiny bag. The hat is the only thing that could have caused problems as it getting blown off her head was a realistic scenario.
ReplyDeleteI find the dress unremarkable but fine. I dislike the accessories. The beige doesn´t go well with the orange (instead, a more khaki green hue had been better), the hat is too big (and it bothers me that she keeps it on indoors), and the gloves way too formal for the dress.
I applaud them for attending that Frisian language class. So important to keep Frisian alive.
Willem-Alexander - at home on a bike or in the cockpit of a 747.
ReplyDeleteQueen Maxima looks fabulous, love the dress and hat. She did so well, cycling in her dress, heels and hat, well done. Her smile and enthusiasm brighten any day.
ReplyDeleteSome decades ago it was quite normal that ladies/women wore dresses/skirts (and not jeans) when cycling. Specially if they were going somewhere where the dress code was dress, they wore dress even if they cycled there. (Perhaps with lower heels). And this happened even elsewhere than in the Netherlands.
ReplyDeleteAbout the hat: I do have a hat similar to Maxima's, but different colour. It was made for a special occasion a few years ago and I have spared it - in case it's needed. Must confess though that I'm one of the very few to wear a hat. If it disturbs ...
Margot
I love the dress and the hat but the most beautiful thing is her radiant smile!!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more! She is a marvel.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Back on stage - Bravo Queen Maxima.
ReplyDeleteAnd may the parade of hats continue. Helps keep us gossiping between ourselves.
DeleteI imagine that this bike riding had not been scheduled in advance...
ReplyDeleteAnyway the Natan choice including her accessories is not flattering.
IMO
Maxima' s happy smile help me forget such a miss.
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