Visit to the USA: Philadelphia, Washington DC and Miami

His Majesty the King and Her Majesty Queen Máxima are paying a working visit to the United States (US). From April 13 to April 15, 2026, they are visiting Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and Miami in the state of Florida. What do you know about the Liberty Bell, the White House, and Miami? Have you ever visited the USA, or are you planning to attend the FIFA World Cup in America? USA, the place to be or not to be?

13 april 2026: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)

Reception of the Governor, press statement, and tour of Independence Hall

On Monday morning, the Royal Couple will be received in Philadelphia by the Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, and First Lady Lori Shapiro. Following this, the King and the Governor will give a brief press statement. The Royal Couple will then be given a tour of Independence Hall , during which the 250th anniversary of the US and the Dutch role in it will be commemorated. Part of the tour includes a visit to the Liberty Bell , the symbol of American independence.

Independence Hall is a historic building in the city of Philadelphia in the United States where the American Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. The State House of the Province of Pennsylvania, later known as Independence Hall, was built between 1732 and 1756 for the colonial administration of Pennsylvania. From 1775 to 1783, the building housed the Second Continental Congress, which formed the government of America during the Revolutionary War. George Washington was elected Commander of the United States Army there in 1775. The design for the American flag was also chosen in the building in 1777, the Articles of Confederation (which formed a confederation of the 13 states of America) were adopted there in 1781, and the American Constitution was drafted there in 1787. Independence Hall has been restored inside and out to its original late 18th-century appearance. Most of the furniture also dates from that period. Independence Hall is part of the Independence National Historical Park and was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

 

The Liberty Bell is a famous and historic bell in Philadelphia, United States. The bell is one of the best-known symbols of the American Revolutionary War and is known as a symbol of freedom in general. The Liberty Bell is housed in a pavilion located across from Independence Hall in Philadelphia. According to tradition, the bell was rung on July 8, 1776, to summon the citizens of Philadelphia for the reading of the Declaration of Independence. The bell also rang in 1774, to announce the opening of the First Continental Congress. The bell is also said to have struck after the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775, something historians often take with a grain of salt. The Liberty Bell was also known as the Independence Bell or the Old Yankee's Bell until the American abolitionist movement adopted the bell as a symbol in 1837.

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will speak with business representatives during a CEO roundtable about trade opportunities and the broad economic relationship with Pennsylvania, particularly in the fields of agriculture and horticulture, biomedical and health sciences, and high tech. Following this, they will attend a networking reception with Governor Shapiro, attended by American and Dutch representatives from the business sector, the sports and cultural sectors, and the government, among others. The King will deliver a short speech at this event. In the afternoon, the Royal Couple will visit Fishtown, a developing neighborhood where American and Dutch art and architecture are visible. The visit begins at the Kensington Creative & Performing Arts High School, where Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker will also join. Subsequently, they will receive an explanation of the Dutch architecture and murals further into the neighborhood and speak with local residents. The visit to Pennsylvania concludes at the Philadelphia Eagles American Football Club, where King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will be given a tour of the training facility. During the tour, they will engage in conversation with staff and athletes and receive an explanation of innovations within the sport. Following this, an economic session will take place where entrepreneurs present innovative products in the sports sector, and attention will be paid to Curaçao's participation in the 2026 World Cup at the Eagles' stadium, the Lincoln Financial Field.

 

13 april 2026: Washington D.C.

Lincoln Bedroom

A networking reception is taking place in Washington with representatives of Dutch and American companies, cultural institutions, and the US government. King Willem-Alexander will deliver a speech. Subsequently, at the invitation of President Trump, the Royal Couple will stay at the White House for dinner and an overnight stay. Prime Minister Jetten will also attend the dinner. The highlight is an exceptional honor: an overnight stay at the White House in the Lincoln Bedroom . This demonstrates the close ties, as most visitors sleep in the guest quarters. The bedroom where they will spend the coming night has a distinct history and is surrounded by various myths.

The suite is named after former President Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865). According to some, the ghost of Lincoln, who was assassinated in Washington, is said to still wander through the hallways and rooms. Particularly near the room named after him, which he used not as a bedroom, but as an office.

The Dutch have always had a close bond with various American presidents. During the Second World War, Queen Wilhelmina also stayed at the White House, this time with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the middle of the night, she heard banging on the bedroom door, according to a story that has been around for years. When she opened it, she claims to have seen the figure of Abraham Lincoln standing there.

And British Prime Minister Winston Churchill also later recounted a remarkable 'encounter'. He had just stepped out of a warm bath in the bathroom where the Dutch royal couple will now wash, when he saw Lincoln's figure by the burning fireplace, naked and with a cigar in his mouth. Hat and all. As far as is known, it was the last ghost story.

 

The White House

The White House is the workplace and official residence of the sitting President of the United States. The building was constructed as the center of Washington, a city specifically designed as the capital. The address of the White House is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 20500 Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump, his wife Melanie Trump, and their youngest son are the current residents of the White House.

The White House was built after the creation of the District of Columbia in 1790. The then-President George Washington, together with urban planner Pierre L'Enfant, designated the location of the White House that was yet to be built.

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Following a competition between nine individuals, the Irishman James Hoban was commissioned to build the White House. The model for the construction was Leinster House in Dublin, which houses the Irish Parliament today. John and Abigail Adams became the first residents of the White House (Washington, DC).

The construction of the White House was completed on November 1, 1800, after a period of eight years of building. The cost amounted to $232.371,83, equivalent to $2,4 million in 2005. The initial name of the White House was the Executive Mansion. In 1798, the house was painted white for the first time, for protection.

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During the War of 1812, the English succeeded in capturing the brand-new city of Washington. In retaliation, English troops led by David Milne set fire to the buildings in Washington. This occurred on the night of August 24–25, 1814.

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The legend is that the building survived and had to be repainted to hide the burn marks. The color white was supposedly chosen, after which the building received its new name. Since the first evidence for the term 'The White House' dates back to 1811, it is unlikely that this was the first time the house was painted white. The name White House only became official in 1901.

 

14 april 2026:  Miami (Florida)

The visit to Florida begins at the Henry Mack School in Miami. This elementary school plays a special role in the neighborhood. Here, students display murals they are creating together with artists from the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. At the Pérez Art Museum, the Royal Couple is greeted by Secretary of State Cord Byrd. Following a meeting, the King and the Secretary of State issue a brief press statement. During a CEO roundtable, the Royal Couple discusses the trade relationship between the Kingdom and Florida together with Secretary of State Byrd, focusing on the investment climate and exploring cooperation opportunities in the fields of logistics, employment, and talent development, among other things. After a short tour of the Pérez Art Museum, known for its collection of Caribbean and Latin American art, they engage in conversation with students from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom studying at various universities in Florida.

In the Little Havana neighborhood, the Royal Couple meets local residents, mostly from the Latino community, playing dominoes together. They discuss with them the importance of the 'Domino Park' as a meeting place. Afterwards, they visit the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science at the University of Miami. This visit focuses on flood resilience and what Florida and the Netherlands can learn from each other in this context. Subsequently, the Royal Couple views the 'Wave Tank SUSTAIN', a simulator capable of simulating hurricane winds, and the coral laboratory, where they receive an explanation of the program involving the crossbreeding of coral species to cultivate stronger and more resilient coral varieties. Opportunities for cooperation with the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom are also explored here.

 

15 april 2026:  Miami (Florida)

The Royal Couple attends part of the pitch sessions where Dutch companies from the maritime manufacturing industry present themselves to potential American customers. Subsequently, they join a 'maritime executive' roundtable on collaboration, shared challenges, and solutions in the field of the maritime manufacturing industry. Finally, they receive a tour of the Shake-a-Leg Marina, where they are given an explanation of the work of this organization that makes water sports accessible to people with disabilities.

At the Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute, the Royal Couple receives a tour during which they speak with doctors and are shown various innovative technologies and processes. The institute collaborates with Dutch companies on an interdisciplinary approach, solutions, and innovations in the field of cardiovascular surgery. Both Florida and the Netherlands are facing an aging population, placing pressure on elderly and healthcare.

The Royal Couple will receive a short tour of the 'Libertad' exhibition at the Freedom Tower museum, focusing on migration and Miami's role as a refuge. Following this, they will attend a networking reception where they will discuss maritime tourism involving Caribbean and Dutch destinations, as well as mental health in the sports industry. They will also speak with American investors about trade opportunities within the Kingdom and with SMEs from the Kingdom working in Florida. The King will deliver a short speech here.

 

Source: Royal House.

 

<strong> More info: </strong>

Blue Blood: https://blauwbloed.eo.nl/royaltynieuws/video-band-oranjes-vs

Previous Royal House blogs: https://www.postzegelblog.nl/tag/Koninklijk-Huis/

Previous USA blogs: https://www.postzegelblog.nl/tag/USA/