King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan rounded up their state visit to Belgium yesterday with a visit to the town of Zeebrugge and the city of Bruges in West Flanders.
While in Bruges the royals visited the Memling Museum, housed in Old St. John’s Hospital and a school. They were greeted by the governor of the Provence, Carl Decaluwé, and the mayor of Bruges, Renaat Landuyt.
Queen Rania and Queen Mathilde visited the chocolatere of Dominique Persoone, who said that Queen Rania is, “crazy about chocolate”. Apparently she placed an order for several boxes of chocolate, which were quickly wrapped so they could be taken home to Jordan. The royal then crossed the market square to the residence of the governor.
A fanfare from Jordan played live music as they crossed the market square. and they greeted the crowds that came out to see them. At the governor’s residence the Jordanian King and Queen were gifted a basket of local products and a ceramic bowl, made by Tine Deweerdt.
The visit to Bruges was the last stop of the two-day state visit from Jordan to Belgium. The visit began in Brussels and Laken, where the state banquet was held in the evening. The King and Queen of the Belgians even brought their children along for the welcome reception.
A wreath was placed on the grave of the unknown soldier, after which the group split up. The King of Belgians and the King of Jordan visited an Airforce base in Florennes, while the Queen of the Belgians and the Queen of Jordan visited the University of Louvain La Neuve.
On her twitter page, Queen Rania described Bruges as “a charming old city” and she also commented on the state banquet as a “lovely dinner banquet held by Their Majesties King Philipe and Queen Mathilde in our honor”.
