Dutch Queen announces new education initiative for children

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has announced a new initiative for musical learning in Dutch schools.

The royal, who is the honorary chair of the More Music in the Classroom Foundation, signed an agreement on Tuesday that will ensure students are taught how to engage with musical learning in a way that benefits their mental health, as well as offering them a new skill.

The initiative is called the Music Agreement Hoeksche Waard.

As the More Music in Classrooms website explains, the importance of music in education as it "provides a structural basis for empathy, social bonding, quality of life" and "creativity" as well as teaching children about "being open to differences".

"In the classroom, it creates a positive school climate, in which students coordinate with each other," the website states.

"Music in the classroom is therefore not an optional choice, but necessary!"

After the signing, the Dutch queen spoke about the importance of music education before enjoying a performance from a youth orchestra.

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As Honorary Chair of the More Music in the Classroom Foundation, Queen Maxima works with 18 other ambassadors to champion musical education.

The Dutch royals have emerged from lockdown to begin public engagements including a visit by the Queen to visit to volunteer organisation House of Hope.

The charity works with vulnerable residents of Rotterdam South with social, financial and practical problems, Maxima visiting to speak with founders, board members, volunteers and participants.

Sharing two photos of her visit to Instagram, the royal made sure to practice safe social distancing.

She has also attended several small engagements and rode her bike to the Art Museum in The Hague which reopened on June 1.

Queen Máxima was joined in lockdown by her three daughters to virtually celebrated King's Day this year.

As part of the annual event, Maxima, accompanied by Princess Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane, appeared on live stream from their palace home to open a digital 'free market'.