His Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen Máxima are paying a state visit to the Republic of Suriname at the invitation of President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons. The visit takes place from Monday, December 1 to Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
On the first day, the Royal Couple is accompanied by Minister David van Weel of Foreign Affairs, and on the following days by Minister Foort van Oosten of Justice and Security. Minister Gouke Moes of Education, Culture and Science and State Secretary Thierry Aartsen of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management are also present at various parts of the state visit.
The state visit focuses on the broad cooperation between Suriname and the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the warm ties between our communities. With attention to the shared past, the visit aims at cooperation, exchange, and future partnerships in many areas.
Monday, December 1
Morning
Welcome Ceremony
President Simons and her husband welcome the Royal Couple at the Presidential Palace with an official welcome ceremony, followed by a tête-à-tête.
Delegation Consultation
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and the accompanying Dutch ministers engage in talks with the Surinamese president and her ministers.
Press Statement
The president and the King give a short press statement with special attention to the broad cooperation between the countries.
Wreath Laying
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima lay a wreath at the statue of Mama Sranan symbolizing ‘mother Suriname’. The statue depicts a female figure holding five children symbolizing the population groups of Suriname.
The National Assembly
The National Assembly (DNA) is the parliament of Suriname. It has 51 seats and one chamber and holds legislative, administrative, and supervisory powers. Members of DNA are directly elected for a term of five years. King Willem-Alexander delivers a short speech here.
Afternoon
Court of Justice
As part of the trias politica, the judiciary is also visited. At the Court of Justice, the Royal Couple talks with the president of the court and some judges about the importance of the independence of the judiciary in a democratic rule of law. The old courtroom and the building of the Court of Justice are part of the historic city center of Paramaribo, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Meeting Representatives of Descendants of Enslaved People and Indigenous Communities
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima speak with representatives of descendants of enslaved people and indigenous communities in Suriname about the past and the future.
State Banquet
In honor of the state visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, President Simons offers a state banquet.
Tuesday, December 2
Morning
Villa Zapakara
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima visit Villa Zapakara, a foundation focused on youth development through art, culture, and education.
In the childrens museum, children learn about the power of culture and nature, and the power within themselves. The center offers interactive and creative exhibitions, various workshops and activities, and has a media library with books and films about art and culture. The current exhibition teaches children more about the unique Javanese-Surinamese culture and their own identity.
Nature Technical Institute
The Nature Technical Institute (NATIN) is a development-oriented institute that trains young people at MBO level for technical, nature-technical, and laboratory sectors for business, service sector, and government of Suriname. The Royal Couple receives a tour of the school where they engage with students from, among others, electrical engineering and the offshore energy sector.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima also attend a hackathon by Deltares focusing on climate, water, and urban resilience of Suriname.
They then meet students from Anton de Kom University Suriname who participated in the Food Systems and Innovation Challenge, an interdisciplinary competition organized by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and the Netherlands Food Partnership. The students talk about their innovative and sustainable solutions to make food systems healthier, fairer, and more future-proof.
Afternoon
Neighborhood Work Foundation Latour
In the afternoon, the Royal Couple visits the community center of Neighborhood Work Foundation Latour (Stibula) in the densely populated Latour neighborhood. Stibula offers a wide range of activities for young and old, such as music, dance, sports, cooking classes, and homework guidance. The King and Queen Máxima meet children, youth, and volunteers and talk with them about what the community center means to them.
Fernandes Bottling Company
At the bottling plant of family business Fernandes, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima get a look inside the modern factory where the bottling process of Surinames most famous drink is explained. The visit ends with a discussion about sustainable and circular entrepreneurship and the cooperation between Fernandes and the Great Plastic Bake OFF with the FUSE Kitchen.
CEO Roundtable
The Royal Couple participates in the closing of the CEO Roundtable, where topics include strengthening economic cooperation and the investment climate, talent development, capacity building, and a sustainable economy of the future. Afterwards, there are meetings with and between Dutch and Surinamese companies where King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima speak with some participants.
Evening
Reciprocal Performance
As a token of appreciation for the hospitality, the Royal Couple offers a cultural program. In Theater Thalia, Sabrina Starke, a Dutch singer-songwriter of Surinamese descent, performs her repertoire in collaboration with Surinamese artists.
Wednesday, December 3
Morning
Boat Trip
The last day of the state visit starts with a boat trip on the Suriname River and the Commewijne River. During the trip, the Royal Couple receives explanations about the value of the rivers (water) and mangrove (forest) for Suriname from spiritual, economic, and ecological perspectives. More than ninety percent of the country consists of tropical rainforest. Suriname is thus one of the three carbon-negative countries in the world and focuses on nature conservation.
Johanna Margaretha
The boat docks at the village of Johanna Margaretha on the northeastern bank of the Commewijne River in the Commewijne district, a large former plantation area. Here, the Royal Couple meets the local community and talks with residents who, besides their work, contribute to keeping alive the stories told in the Frederiksdorp education center.
Frederiksdorp
Frederiksdorp is a former coffee and cocoa plantation on the northeastern bank of the Commewijne River and is now an educational center where present and past are connected.
The Royal Couple visits the diorama Life on the Plantation, created by Aruban-Surinamese artist Rita Maasdamme, an artwork that takes visitors back to colonial Suriname. The Royal Couple also talks with young heritage professionals at Frederiksdorp, including archaeologists and staff of the National Archives of Suriname. In the conversation, the young heritage professionals share their views on the challenges and opportunities within the Surinamese heritage sector and their experiences and opinions on heritage cooperation between Suriname and the Netherlands.
Afternoon
Reception Dutch Community
The third and final day of the state visit concludes with a reception of the Dutch community. At the residence, the Royal Couple talks with Dutch people living or working in Suriname.
RVD, no. 314
