Prinsjesdag

I took a long lunch break today and visited the centre of The Hague with two colleagues, Arie and Marcel. The occasion was Prinsjesdag - the opening of the new season of the Dutch parliament.

Along with numerous others, we waited along the side of the street for the procession to come through, with the high point being the Royal Family in their golden carriage. Thanks to all the crowds, though, photography was a challenge (particularly for someone of my stature), so not many procession photos for me.

During the wait we had a fine time observing the members of the Navy, as they were given dextrose tablets to keep them on their feet (we still saw a couple who had to be replaced as the standing became too much for them) and had their caps and jackets straightened by their superiors.