King Willem-Alexander baking pancakes for elderly residents in a home in Pijnacker. (Oranje Fonds photo)
AMERSFOORT--The royal family participated in NLdoet – a major annual volunteer action by Orange Fund - on Friday and Saturday.
Former Queen Princess Beatrix, Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette actively helped make learning and play materials and preparing the garden for spring at children’s day centre Onder een Dak in Amersfoort.
The day centre teaches children and teenagers with learning disabilities how to deal with daily activities.
Princess Beatrix performed her tasks very energetically, according to RTL Nieuws. “We’re not here for a joke. Do it seriously,” she admonished Orange Fund Director Peter Douwes when he seemed to be slacking.
Beatrix hammered, drilled and gave directions as if she had been doing it all her life. After helping with the play materials, she went into the garden and playground where she was assisted by a few of the children present. “Just ignore them,” she advised the children when they got distracted by the gathering media.
This is the 14th year of NLdoet. On Saturday, some 375,000 volunteers helped out in more than 10,500 activities, according to RTL.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima also volunteered. Together with volunteers, the King and Queen prepared lunch for the elderly at a home in Pijnacker, near The Hague. They also played old-Dutch games with the residents, together with youth organisation Network Young Connection. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are patrons of Orange Fund.
