On October 4, Queen Maxima hosted the “Appeltjes van Oranje 2023” (Apples of the Orange) awards ceremony at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. King Willem-Alexander and Princess Beatrix were in attendance at the event.
Annually, the Apples of the Orange are presented to three Dutch social initiatives that demonstrate distinctiveness, creativity, and significance, and have been in operation for a minimum of one year.
In the 21st edition of the Appeltjes van Oranje, the focus was on recognizing successful neighborhood initiatives that effectively fostered connections and bridged differences among local residents. The award includes a bronze statuette crafted by Princess Beatrix and a monetary prize of €25,000. Typically, Queen Maxima presents the awards at Noordeinde Palace annually, while every five years, King Willem-Alexander takes on this role.
