Juliana’s funeral in Delft, flags at half-mast

20 March 2004

AMSTERDAM — Princess Juliana will be laid to rest in the city of Delft on 30 March and to honour her passing all flags on government buildings will fly at half-mast until the funeral and all official festivities will be postponed.

And despite the fact the Netherlands does not have a national morning, the government information service RVD has issued mourning instructions to various organisations.

The mourning period will thus be similar to that which occurred for Prince Claus, the husband of Queen Beatrix, who died in October 2002.

Government building flags will be at half-mast, but may not be flown on Sunday. The ringing of clock tower bells may only occur on the day of the funeral. All official festivities will be postponed, while other functions will be soberly adjusted.

It has been confirmed that Princess Juliana will be interred in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft, on Tuesday 30 March. It will be a private ceremony, similar to the funeral for Prince Claus.

It is also expected that the public will be able pay their last respects to Princess Juliana in a chapel in the Palace Noordeinde in The Hague. Official delegations will pay their final respects first, public news service NOS reported.

RTL news said the wedding of Prince Johan Friso and Mabel Wisse Smit will proceed on 24 April in Delft as planned. But it is not yet certain if the official Queen’s Day celebrations on 30 April will go ahead.

Newspaper De Telegraaf will launch its Sunday edition this weekend and competitors Algemeen Dagblad, De Volkskrant and the NRC Handelsblad will also publish a Sunday edition in connection with Juliana’s passing.

The RVD has established an information line that can be reached by dialing 0800 300 1813. It is open on the weekend from 9am-6pm and 9am-9pm on weekdays.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Dutch news + Princess Juliana