King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands continued their state visit to Suriname on Tuesday with a focus on youth engagement, cultural preservation, and bilateral cooperation. The second day of their diplomatic mission featured visits to key institutions demonstrating the nations’ shared commitment to education, innovation, and sustainable development.
The royal itinerary began at Villa Zapakara Children’s Museum, where the monarchs and President Jennifer Simons explored interactive exhibitions blending art, culture, and education. The royal participants engaged in workshops including music production and video creation while learning about Javanese cultural elements such as gamelan music, batik art, poco-poco dance, and traditional cuisine. Director Coco Duivenvoorde emphasized the institution’s role in connecting youth with cultural heritage and global citizenship.
At the Natural Technical Institute (NATIN), the delegation witnessed Suriname’s advancements in vocational education. Minister Dirk Currie highlighted the critical importance of technical training for developing nations during a tour of modern facilities featuring process technology and electrical engineering simulation equipment supported by oil companies including Staatsolie. The visit featured presentations from Hackathon Deltares participants developing solutions for climate resilience and water management, alongside Anton de Kom University students showcasing food security innovations from the WUR 2025 Food Systems Innovation Challenge.
A significant milestone emerged with the launch of the Netherlands-Suriname Educational Cooperation Platform, formalizing collaboration between vocational, higher education, and university institutions through joint projects, exchanges, and research initiatives stemming from the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding.
The royal couple subsequently visited Stibula community center in Latour, where coordinator Wilgo Koster demonstrated decades-long social programs operating without government subsidies. The center provides safe spaces for sports, cultural activities, and theater productions for both youth and seniors.
At Fernandes Bottling Company, the monarchs examined production methodologies and quality control systems during a facility tour highlighting 45 years of Dutch partnership. Sustainability took center stage through discussions about the FUSE Kitchen project—a mobile mini-factory converting plastic waste into construction materials—developed in collaboration with green technology firm Great Plastic Bake Off to reduce pollution while creating local recycling employment.
The day concluded with a CEO Roundtable addressing economic cooperation, investment climate improvement, talent development, workforce capacity building, and sustainable economic transition, followed by a gratitude concert featuring Dutch artist Sabrina Starke at Thalia Theater.