Queen Beatrix to Take Her Own Train to the Railway Museum

UTRECHT, The Netherlands, March 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- On 14 April, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will open the exhibition 'Royal Class, regal journeys'. The Queen will arrive at the museum in the royal train, which will then be put on display. The exhibition - which will be open to the public from 15 April to 5 September - gives the public a chance to view the railway carriages used by the various royal houses.

The Dutch Railway Museum was reopened in 2005 after major renovation, and this exhibition marks its 5th anniversary. For the first time ever, historical royal trains from all over Europe can be seen in a single exhibition. After a regal reception in the Royal Waiting Room, visitors will be led past the gleaming royal carriages by actors dressed as historic figures who will explain the connection between royalty and the railways.

European royalty

Museums all over Europe have lent exhibits to the Railway Museum. Visitors can admire a carriage used by the British Queen Adelaide (1842), a complete train built for the Portuguese Queen Maria Pia (1858), a panel from the royal train used by the Austrian Empress Sissi (1858), furnishings from Bavarian King Ludwig II's royal train (1860), the interior of Czar Alexander II's carriage (1870), and carriages used by King Christiaan IX of Denmark (1871), King Edward VII of Britain (1902), Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungary (1910), King Albert I of Belgium (1912), Swedish King Carl Gustav (1930) and King Boris of Bulgaria (1938).

Dutch royal carriages

The carriages used by Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard and the present-day carriage used by Queen Beatrix will be open to the public. In addition, the Railway Museum is building a replica of the saloon car originally built in 1864 for Queen Anna Paulowna.

Arrival: 14 April at 3 p.m.

Press accreditation should be requested by 9 April; please send an email giving name(s), medium and position(s) to [email protected]. In the event of oversubscription it might be necessary to impose restrictions. Media representatives will be informed about this by email on 12 April.

    Press preview
    A press preview will be held on Tuesday 13 April from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    Please register with Evertjan de Rooij before 9 April.
    http://www.royalclass.info

SOURCE Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum