On Friday 15 November 2013, 25 students and two accompanying staff members of the College of Europe Bruges campus attended the “King's Day” in the Belgian Federal Parliament in Brussels. They were invited by the Governor of West-Flanders Mr Carl DE CALUWE as the theme of this year’s King's Day this year was “European Citizenship”.
They were seated in the Senate or Parliament to attend the ceremony and to listen to the following speakers: Mr André FLAHAUT, President of the Chamber, Mr Herman VAN ROMPUY, President of the European Council, Mr Elio DI RUPO, Belgian Prime Minister and Mrs Sabine de BETHUNE, President of the Senate.
Traditionally, the King and Queen cannot attend this event themselves. Several members of the Royal Family were present: King Albert and Queen Paola, Prince Laurent and Princess Claire, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz. The Bruges student of the College of Europe, Mr Thibault HEINKENS, was presented to King Albert and Prince Lorenz as the representative of West-Flanders.
After the ceremony, all the guests were invited to a succulent reception catered by local specialists of the various Belgian Provinces. West-Flanders was culinary represented with some delicacies from the Hotel Management School Ter Duinen from Koksijde. During the reception the students also had the opportunity to talk to various members of the Royal Family and high officials.
It was an exclusive opportunity given to us by Governor DE CALUWE which the students will always remember.