ROTTERDAM, 15/12/00 - Rotterdam Mayor Opstelten will be receiving a Christmas tree today from the Norwegian princess Martha Louise. Norway has traditionally given Rotterdam such a tree, but as it is this year for the fiftieth time, the Norwegian princess is personally present.

Princess Martha Louise (29), the only daughter of King Harald and his wife Sonja, is no stranger to the Netherlands. In 1995, she studied physiotherapy at the Nijmegen Hogeschool before doing a traineeship in Maastricht. She speaks Dutch and is on very friendly terms with the House of Orange.

The princess is closely connected to various humanitarian activities. Her involvement also expresses itself in the Martha Louise fund for handicapped children in Norway. She has learned sign language so that she would be more capable of communicating with the deaf.

Mayor Opstelten of the world's largest seaport is honored with the royal visit and pleased with the tree. Tonight he will join the princess in kindling the spruce's lights.