Queen Máxima among the sugar beets: you don’t see that every day. Her Majesty visited sugar beet paradise Dinteloord on Wednesday afternoon. She visited the mega company Royal Cosun, best known for its sugar factory. “Farmers really make the difference here,” Máxima said afterwards to Omroep Brabant.
“It was really a very nice visit. It made a huge impression,” said her highness. And then refer to the company’s sustainable goals. “They have great expectations here for 2030 with reducing water consumption and CO2 emissions.”
‘Heart skipped a beat’
“Your heart skips a beat when you actually shake her hand,” says grower John van Kasteren from Boxtel, who is still beaming. “Great! It was a really wonderful experience to be able to speak to Máxima for once. She listened very well.”
“Delicious!”, her highness exclaims enthusiastically when she tastes a cheese snack in the innovative bakery. Máxima walked through the beet warehouse, past agricultural machines and spoke extensively with growers and employees. They talked about business succession, sustainability and the future, among other things.
‘Really next to me’
“It was great to meet her. You normally see her on TV, now you see her in real life. Now she is standing next to you, that is a great honor,” describes Julia van Marrewijk from Breda. “She asked good questions and listened very well.”
Her Majesty’s visit did not come out of the blue. Last May, the sugar beet giant won the King Willem I Prize, the Oscar for business. According to the jury, they are working very sustainably and future-proof there in Dinteloord. “Really deserved,” the Queen emphasized.
Sugar Union
When you think of Dinteloord you quickly think of the former Suiker Unie. The sugar factory is now called Cosun Beet Company and is part of the mega company. The farmers’ cooperative has been in existence for 125 years. It is owned by approximately 8,100 sugar beet growers.
Next to the sugar factory there is a research laboratory where, among other things, it is examined how proteins can be extracted more easily from potatoes and beets. The visit was mainly focused on that center.
The high visit started around two o’clock and ended around half past four. Of course, half the staff was ready to do one thing above all: wave to Máxima.