THE HAGUE, 20/09/00 - As happens each year on Princes Day, thousands of people yesterday lined the route along which Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus travelled to the parliament building (Ridderzaal) in the Golden Coach. The police estimated the number of spectators to be at least 80,000.

Crown Prince Willem-Alexander accompanied his parents in the Golden Coach. He had returned especially for Princes Day from Australia, where he is attending the Olympic Games in Sydney as a member of the IOC.

During the Queen's speech from the throne, the Lower House representatives of the socialist party (SP) and a number of left-wing Green (GroenLinks) MPs were absent, true to tradition. After the speech, the Queen and her entourage returned to the Noordeinde palace for the popular 'balcony scene', when the entire family waved to the large crowd that had gathered.

This year, numerous extra security measures had been implemented because of the possibility of action being taken by Moluccans or lorry drivers. Riot police vans were stationed at various locations in the city center, and many policemen in plain clothes mingled with the public.