‘In a changing world, she was a constant
She didn’t really like Elizabeth that much, she says. She thought, Heather Porte is recovering quickly. “Want the past week is the queen actually got out of my mind for a moment. She was there all my life. When I went to school and went to college. When we joined Europe and when we got out again. And now she’s gone.”
Porte is one of several hundred people who took the bike from the metro this Saturday afternoon to the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, better known as the Saint Nicholas Church, directly opposite Amsterdam CS. A national memorial for Queen Elizabeth II, who died last week, takes place here on the eve of the funeral.
British experience
It is a wonderful experience for those who pass through the doors from the Prins Hendrikkade, where tourism is flourishing as of old, and suddenly imagine themselves in a British church. Even the fact that the Nicolaaskerk is perhaps the most Catholic church in Amsterdam does not detract from that experience.
It is quite full inside. Many people have come to this service, says deacon Rob Polet. “We have invited the staff of the British Embassy and there are other British residents of our city as well. And I’ve also seen the best many people who come here more often. Apparently the queen means something to a lot of people.”
king thing
Visitors can sign a register upon entering. While the late Queen watches kindly from a photo, Romano scribbles a text in the book. What did he write? “That I will miss her so much. I’m not British, I’ve lived in the Netherlands all my life, but I always had Elizabeth in mind. A real person, you don’t see that often with all that royal stuff in the world.”
The fact that the Queen’s demise arouses feelings within all sections of society is also apparent from the character of service: the ecumenical transactions are presided over by Jan Hendriks, Bishop of Haarlem-Amsterdam and Pastor René de Reuver, General Synod of the Protestant Church. Representatives of other faith communities are also present, as is Vera Bergkamp, president of the House of Representatives. The service was broadcast on NPO2.
share sadness
Jonathan Prince didn’t think twice when he heard that this service was being held. “I follow all the news from Britain these days closely. Although I have lived in the Netherlands for more than sixty years, I really got the feeling that I had to go home, to where I come from. I wanted to share my grief with others. But going up and down to England is too uncertain now, with all those conditions at Schiphol, so I’m glad this has been organised.”
The fact that Elizabeth has been on the British throne for such an extremely long time is, according to some of those present, a major cause of her ambition. Joanna Roper, the British ambassador to the Netherlands, agrees. “In a changing world, the Queen was a constant. She was always there.”
Utmost
Also the extent of the surrender and the seriousness with Elizabeth’s recording of her kingship. Although she was not born heir to the throne, she knew from a young age that she had a job to do. She promised to do her very best and now, at the end of her life, we can say that she has kept it.”
The Queen brought people together, Roper says. “She was our queen, but she was also our favorite grandmother. I have had the opportunity to meet her a number of times and I can say that she was also our greatest diplomat. All Britain’s ambassadors are honored to work for her.”