Photo: Patrick van Katwijk / Rotapool
27 award winners to lunch: Willem-Alexander and Máxima honour them
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima invited 27 people who have recently received awards for their achievements to lunch at Noordeinde Palace. Among them were writers, scientists and two world champions.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima on Tuesday invited 27 people to lunch at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. All of them have recently received a prize or other distinction for their achievements in fields such as art and culture, media, science, sport and business.
The lunch is known as the "uitblinkerslunch", the lunch for high achievers. According to the Royal House, the King and Queen use it to show their recognition and appreciation for people who have achieved something special.
Writers, scientists and world champions
Among the guests was the author Connie Palmen, who this year received the Constantijn Huygens Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards in the Netherlands. The two winners of this year's Spinoza Prize, the country's highest award for scientists, were also invited: chemistry professor Herman Overkleeft of Leiden University and Karin Roelofs, who researches anxiety and stress at Radboud University in Nijmegen.
From the world of sport came Sofie Dokter, this year's world champion in the multi-event, and track cyclist Hetty van de Wouw, who became world champion in the team sprint last year. The singing duo Suzan & Freek were there after winning both the Popprijs, an award for Dutch pop music, and a 3FM Award.
Other guests included the vocational teacher of the year, the social worker of the year, the best local politician in a small municipality, the top businesswoman of the year, two architects who received an award for young architects, and the most innovative small business of the year. The Royal House has published the full guest list.