TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Japanese government announced Tuesday that Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will pay an official visit to the Netherlands and Belgium for about two weeks starting in mid-June.
As reported by ANTARA, the trip marks Naruhito’s fourth official overseas visit since ascending the throne, aimed at strengthening Japan’s international relations.
From June 13–26, the Japanese emperor and empress will be state guests of the Dutch and Belgian royal families, attending welcoming ceremonies and state banquets during their visit. The visit will be their first to the Netherlands in 13 years and to Belgium in 27 years.
During their visit to the Netherlands in 2006, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako stayed with their daughter, Princess Aiko, for two weeks while the Crown Princess recovered from adjustment disorder.
According to the agenda, after departing from Tokyo on June 13, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are set to attend a welcoming ceremony and state banquet in Amsterdam. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will lead the event. They are also scheduled to meet Dutch Prime Minister (PM) Rob Jetten and visit parliament in The Hague.
Naruhito and Masako are also scheduled to lay a wreath at the war memorial to commemorate Japan’s invasion of the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) during World War II.
In commemoration of the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Belgium, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will travel to Brussels on June 20, where they will be greeted by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. They are then scheduled to return to Japan on June 26.
The trip will be the first visit to both countries since Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement in 2019. Their last overseas trip was to Mongolia in 2025. Previously, in 2002, Naruhito and Masako visited New Zealand and Australia as Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
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