King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima regional visit
Wednesday 18 September 2019, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima paid a regional visit to Southwest Drenthe (in Dutch). The program included Dwingelderveld National Park and ASTRON.
The Dwingeloo Radio Telescope is located on the edge of the Dwingelderveld and close to the ASTRON buildings. On the way from Dwingelderveld to ASTRON, the Royal Couple walked along the radio telescope. Outside of the radio telescope, CAMRAS volunteer and ASTRON employee Tammo Jan Dijkema gave the Royal Couple a brief explanation with demonstration of hydrogen in the spiral arms of the Milky Way. Tammo Jan was accompanied by Cor Veldman, one of the longest cooperating CAMRAS volunteers. In order to perform the demonstration flawlessly, three telescope operators were present in the telescope: CAMRAS volunteers Cees Bassa (also ASTRON employee), Harm Munk (CAMRAS vice-chairman) and Sigrid Witteveen.
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- A check with Tammo Jan Dijkema. (Photo HJS)
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- The operators Sigrid Witteveen, Harm Munk, Sigrid Bassa and Tammo Jan Dijkema check the demo and readability of the monitor tied at the telescope. (Photo HJS)
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- Just adjusting. (Photo HJS)
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- Mayor Jager and the Royal Couple arrive at the Dwingelderveld. (Photo HJS)
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- Tammo Jan Dijkema explains the demo. (Photo HJS)
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- Later, the Westerveld police came back to see how the radio telescope works. (Photo GB)
In 1956, King Willem-Alexander’s grandmother, at that time Queen Juliana, opened the radio telescope. Therefor we wanted to show the Royal Couple that the radio telescope is still working, but now with volunteers.
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- Commissioning of the Dwingeloo Radio Telescope by Queen Juliana on April 17, 1956. (Photo LOA)
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- Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander, September 18, 2019. (Photo HJS)
You can read more about the visit to ASTRON on the ASTRON website.
During the regional visit, attention was given to initiatives by residents and entrepreneurs to preserve the quality of life in their city or village. A connecting approach is central to these initiatives. The Royal Couple visited the municipalities of Hoogeveen, Westerveld, De Wolden and Meppel.
