Statsbesøk fra Belgia: Hans Majestet Kongens tale

Your Majesties,

Welkom, bienvenue, willkommen

Dear guests!

The Queen and I have been looking forward to this state visit from Belgium for some time now, as it has been more than 20 years since the last time our countries met in this way.

In 2003, we were invited to Belgium by Their Majesties King Albert II and Queen Paola, and it is truly an honour to be able to return the invitation – this time with the new royal couple.

On a personal level, it is also a great pleasure to host family, as we do not get to meet as often as we would like.

Dear Philippe and Mathilde, my family and I are delighted to have this opportunity to celebrate the enduring friendship between our two families and countries.

I know that our dear Crown Princess would have wished to be with us tonight. Unfortunately, she is unable to attend due to her health situation.

The bonds between Belgium and Norway are longstanding and warm. Though separated by the North Sea, we are united by shared values and common aspirations.

Belgium, in the heart of Europe, has played an important part in Norwegian history. Antwerp, in particular, has been a key gateway for Norwegian trade to the rest of Europe. Many a Norwegian sailor – perhaps in need of some moral guidance – has visited the Norwegian Seaman’s Church in Antwerp. Established in 1865, it was in fact the very first of its kind.

The sea unites us in many ways. Belgian and Norwegian explorers sailed on expeditions together during the era of Arctic and Antarctic exploration.

Back then, you had to be prepared to add months to your journey. Let us hope you don’t experience unforeseen delays on your way back to Belgium this time, as Roald Amundsen and Adrien De Gerlache did aboard Belgica on their journey from the South Pole.

Their expedition spent the winter in the Antarctic, frozen in the ice, and the journey home lasted an extra 13 months.

Today, Norwegians’ shared adventures with Belgians tend to be slightly less demanding.

Many Norwegians find work in Brussels – or simply enjoy very good food and beer during memorable holidays.

Or we take pleasure in exploring Belgian culture through art and literature – and the uniquely Belgian talent for combining the two, in comics and graphic novels.

Lucky Luke, the Smurfs – and of course Tintin – continue to captivate readers across generations.

Tintin has sailed the seven seas, but we can assure Your Majesties that Norwegian waters generally offer fewer pirates and less drama than our forever-young Belgian friend has to contend with.

Your Majesties, dear guests,

Belgium and Norway are longstanding allies, and we are founding members of both the UN and NATO. We cooperate in the European single market, and we are maritime neighbours.

Belgium and Norway have stood by each other in difficult times.

This visit is testimony to our enduring shared values in a challenging world.

We are small countries committed to multilateralism and international law. We remain dedicated to the transition to clean energy and energy security in Europe, and we both make important contributions to enhancing the safety and security of our part of the world.

As we all know, we cannot take these principles for granted, but must continue to defend them every day.

Our shared values and commitments are reflected in the programme for your visit to Oslo and Stavanger.

I hope the visit will serve to reaffirm the words of the Belgian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Father Dominique Pire, who stated in his lecture here in Oslo in 1958:

“Peace is not something to lecture about, but something to put into practice.”

In uncertain times like these, it is a comfort to me – and to all Norwegians – to have close friends like the Belgians.

Friends that we have built a community of values with, traded and built businesses with, friends that we know we can continue to rely on as we explore and navigate the future.

Your Majesties, let me once again welcome you to Norway.

The Queen and I would now like to ask you all to join us in a toast to Their Majesties the King and the Queen of the Belgians, to the people of Belgium and to the close and friendly relations between our two countries.

Skål!