The King Of The Netherlands Flies Himself To A German State Visit
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands traveled in style for a three-day state visit to Germany as the co-pilot of the ‘Dutch Air Force One.’ The sovereign was at the aircraft’s controls during its journey from The Hague to Berlin Brandenburg Airport on July 5th. King Willem-Alexander is a keen aviator and secretly flew commercial flights for Dutch airline KLM for 21 years.
The King flies his own delegation to Germany
On Monday, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrived in Germany onboard PH-GOV, a Boeing 737-700 (BBJ) dubbed the ‘Dutch Air Force One.’ Interestingly, co-piloting the aircraft was none other than the King himself, a noted aviation enthusiast and experienced pilot.
The plane departed from The Hague on Monday morning and touched down at Berlin Brandenburg Airport at around 11 am local time. Along with the King and Queen, other notable individuals onboard included the Minister of Defence (Ank Bijleveld), the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Sigrid Kaag) and the Minister for Public Health (Hugo de Jonge).
The King pictured at his coronation in 2013. Photo: Ministerie van Defensie via Wikimedia Commons
The delegation flew to Germany to begin a three-day state visit and was met with a traditional 21-gun salute at the airport. Additionally, two German Eurofighter jets accompanied the plane upon arrival to Berlin. The three-day state visit will remain confined to Berlin and involve various political and cultural engagements, including a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests.
The Dutch Air Force One
PH-GOV is a Boeing 737-700 (BBJ) used by the Dutch royal family and state officials, including the Prime Minister. The aircraft can reportedly fly for around 12 hours, allowing it to reach anywhere in the world from the Netherlands with just a single stopover.
The aircraft is notable for the large Dutch coat of arms emblazoned next to its staircase. Inside the plane, there are two dining and conference rooms and a passenger seating area at the back with 12 first class seats.
The luxury interior includes two conference/dining rooms. Photo: Getty Images
After purchasing the plane in 2018, the Dutch government revamped the interior in 2019 to make it fit for a King. Other notable onboard features include lie-flat seats, flat-screen TVs and a large master bathroom (with a walk-in shower). However, unlike most other state aircraft, the plane doesn’t have a private bedroom.
Before PH-GOV, the Dutch government used a Fokker 70 (PH-KBX) for official trips. King Willem-Alexander frequently flew the Fokker 70 before the government upgraded to the current Boeing 737-700 (BBJ).
The King was frequently spotted at the controls of the former official Dutch government plane, a Fokker 70 (PH-KBX). Photo: Handelsgeselschaft via Wikimedia Commons
The King’s aviator history
Many knew of King Willem-Alexander’s passion for piloting, as he was frequently pictured at the controls of his own plane during state visits. However, it came as a surprise when the public discovered the King had been moonlighting as a commercial pilot for KLM. In 2017, it became public knowledge that King Willem-Alexander had flown commercially for KLM for 21 years.
The King secretly operated commercial flights for KLM for 21 years. Photo: Javier Bravo Muñoz via Wikimedia Commons
The King has claimed that, were he not part of the royal family, he would dedicate himself to commercial piloting. While he was difficult to recognize in his KLM uniform and pilot’s cap, some passengers reportedly recognized his voice during announcements onboard. He obtained his piloting credentials in the 1980s and underwent retraining to operate Boeing 737s after KLM retired the Fokker 70.
What do you think of the Netherlands’ official state aircraft? Let us know what you think in the comments.
