Officers of the Statendam met Prime Minister of the Netherlands Jan Peter Balkenende hours before the opening of the Olympics in Vancouver.

From left: Hotel Manager Bert van Mackelenbergh, Captain Frans Consen, Prime Minister of The Netherlands Jan Peter Balkenende, 4th Officer Elianne van Rongen and 3rd Officer Dirk van Aarsen.

In honor of the visit of the Prime Minister, the Dutch Ambassador of Canada, Wim Geerts, invited a very exclusive group of guests, including some of the Statendam officers. The location could not have been chosen better. Overlooking the skyline of Vancouver, it was an honor to visit the Prime Minister at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club.

Bert van Mackelenbergh is Statendam’s hotel manager.