King Willem-Alexander to attend Statia’s First Salute commemoration

King Willem-Alexander is scheduled to attend St. Eustatius’ commemoration of the 250th anniversary of The First Salute on Monday 16 November, according to a visit programme published on Monday. Prime Minister Rob Jetten and State Secretary for Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg are also scheduled to attend the ceremony.

The programme adds details to the First Salute anniversary events already announced, including the King’s planned visits to Regio Deal Statia 2026 projects. It says the King and Jetten will arrive on Sunday 15 November and be welcomed by Island Governor Alida Francis.

The Monday ceremony is to include an honour guard, flag raising, national anthems, a welcome by Francis and a speech by the King. A salute-shot re-enactment involving an American vessel is also scheduled.

The King is also scheduled to open Fort Oranje Museum, which the programme says presents the history after The First Salute through the experiences of enslaved people. He is due to unveil the first QR-code virtual reality column on the Digital Heritage Route during a bicycle tour.

The itinerary also includes Fort Amsterdam and Battery Rotterdam, where a memorial site on the history of slavery is being established. Jetten is scheduled to follow a separate programme after that visit.

Later visits are planned to a nursing home, the Mega-D Youth Foundation and the Golden Rock neighbourhood, where social housing units are being renovated. The King is scheduled to speak with residents during the Golden Rock visit.