King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands held a Dinner for newly appointed Prime Minister Jetten and all the ministers of the new Cabinet at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague on March 11th.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima held the Dinner for all the ministers of the Jetten Cabinet and their partners in the Oranjezaal of the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague. The dinner expresses the King’s role as a member of the government and the bond between the King and the Cabinet.
King Willem-Alexander gave a speech:
Ladies and gentlemen,
A warm welcome to the Orange Hall at Huis ten Bosch Palace! The Queen and I are delighted to have you as our guests this evening.
It is customary that after a new cabinet takes office, we invite ministers and their partners to a dinner. Partners are explicitly included.The beautiful tradition of the “starter dinner” hasn’t been around for very long.
The first time was in 2022.
The second time in 2024.
Now, in 2026.
And as dear as we are to this start dinner, we would welcome the next edition in 2030!
We’ve already gotten to know many of you well, either as ministers or in other capacities. It’s wonderful to see you again in this new formation! We know some of you even less well. We look forward to getting to know you better, this evening and in the months to come!
You all bring your own background and personality. However, as I understand it, you also have something in common… and that’s a modest ego. At least, that’s what it said in the job description when your team was formed.You may be familiar with Goethe’s words: “The modest must endure, and the bold must suffer.”
If that’s true, then you will at least be spared the suffering.
But patience, you will need it in abundance.
Much will be asked of you to gain support for your plans. You cannot rely on a majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. It will take a great deal of empathy, unifying leadership, and persuasiveness to move forward.
And moving forward is crucial, given the unprecedented challenges our country faces.
Breakthroughs are needed to help people find housing. To offer farmers prospects. To empower entrepreneurs. To make our economy and energy supply stronger, cleaner, and greener. To implement an effective and humane asylum policy. To maintain our healthcare, education, and social security for everyone.
All these topics involve difficult trade-offs between diverse values and interests. And forging connections between policy areas.
It will be a struggle and painful in any case.
Imagine the challenge.And then there is the turbulent international environment to which we must respond and anticipate.
Tonight, we are missing the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense. They are attending the debate in the House of Representatives on the deployment of the frigate HNLMS Evertsen in the Mediterranean due to the situation in the Middle East. This illustrates the troubled world we live in.
The Netherlands strives to play an active role in Europe, NATO, the UN, and wherever countries collaborate on justice, peace, security, and sustainable development.
You’ll find us at your side in all these areas.
As a member of the government, I am part of your team. My wife is equally closely involved in your work serving the Netherlands.
So, know where to find us.
And vice versa… we visit many places and speak with many people with practical experience. We’re happy to pass on any relevant feedback to you.We wish you and your team every success.
Each of you has your own portfolio and responsibilities. But the most important success factor is the coherence between all these policy areas. Solutions may lie more in the connections between your portfolios than in the portfolios themselves. So reach out and support each other.
Those who will continue to hold on to you and support you unconditionally in the coming years are your partners, family members, and friends. Cherish them!
My wife and I would like to offer our deepest condolences to all partners. Your support is so important!Politics can be tough, but with loving people around you—family and friends—it’s possible to stay healthy and positive even under pressure. We wish you all the best!
I would like to raise a glass with all of you.
May blessings rest upon your important work.
Upon the Kingdom of the Netherlands!
