
H M Sultan Haitham accorded royal Dutch welcome
By OMAN NEWS AGENCY (ONA)
Amsterdam, Netherlands – His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik arrived in Amsterdam on Monday on a three-day state visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
When the Royal airplane entered the airspace of the Netherlands, it was escorted by military aircraft of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in a warm welcome for His Majesty the Sultan. After that, the Royal airplane of His Majesty landed at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
His Majesty the Sultan was received at the foot of the ramp by Rear Admiral Ludger Brummelaar, Chief of the Military House of the King, Reinette Klever, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, other Dutch officials and members of the Omani Embassy in the Netherlands.
His Majesty the Sultan then proceeded to an awaiting imperial vehicle, passing between two rows of the Netherlands Royal Guard of Honour.
The Royal motorcade of His Majesty the Sultan left the airport heading to his residence in the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. The motorcade was preceded by a fleet of motorcycles.
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands will hold an official reception for His Majesty the Sultan on Tuesday.
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