The King and Queen of the Netherlands were welcomed with great pomp in Paris on Thursday for a state visit to France two days aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries, but also economic exchanges with the signing of several contracts.

Arriving Wednesday evening at Villacoublay airport, the royal couple went down Thursday morning the Champs Elysee, escorted by riders of the Republican Guard. Her Majesty arrived in a classy pant suit from CLAES IVERSEN AW 2015 collection and a animal skin WITH BAMBOO HANDLE from Spanish designer Uterque. Then King Willem-Alexander joined the presidential palace and ascended the red carpet in front of other detachments of the Republican Guard, to find French President at the foot of the steps. "This state visit comes at a time of very strong intensification of our dialogue policy, when the Netherlands holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, "said the French presidency.
After a couple of chats with the French Presidence, the couple went to Arc de Triomph to lay flowers on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a welcoming ceremony at the start of their state visit to France, on March 10, 2016 in Paris.

After an interview with François Hollande the sovereigns couple then traveled with him to the Louvre, where will be unveiled two portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit, Rembrandt works acquired jointly by France and the Netherlands for 160 million euros. Thursday evening, a state dinner will be offered them at the Elysee. "

Beyond the formal side of this visit, it is still densify our trade ", indicated an Elysée adviser on the eve of their arrival, noting that trade between the two countries" amount to nearly 40 billion euros. "the royal couple is well accompanied by a dozen business leaders including Heineken, Rabobank, Philips and Unilever and the visit will be an opportunity to launch a" Franco-Dutch initiative "to revive "the cooperation on a wide range of areas."

Four or five contracts should be signed in the City of Fashion and Design where King Willem-Alexander will participate in an economic dialogue between the MEDEF and its Dutch equivalent of innovation. The sovereign also visit "the incubator of startups NUMA" in the heart of the capital, an opportunity to discuss the creation of a "hub of the French Tech" in Amsterdam to promote links between young entrepreneurs from the two countries.

The double portrait of Rembrandt in September jointly acquired by the Louvre and Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, a first in Europe, was presented Thursday to François Hollande and the king and queen of the Netherlands, on official visit to France.

King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and the president have long admired the Louvre two canvases representing two Dutch notables, Marlen Soolmans and his wife Oopjen Coppit, dressed in black and lace. They were bought € 160 million by the two museums, as part of a government agreement.

Visible to the general public on Thursday afternoon in the room Rosa, these masterpieces will be on display for three months at the Louvre, then three months in the Rijksmuseum, before the subject of a restoration, for an unknown duration .

The portraits will be exhibited in Amsterdam for five years, then for the same period in the Louvre. The alternation will then every eight years. It is accompanied by a loan ban outside the two institutions.
Her Majesty wore an other Claes Iversen AW 2015 collection,  large asymmetric hat