Queen Máxima gives top culture award to architect Francine Houben

Queen Maxima awarded the Prince Bernhard Culture Prize for 2015 to architect Francine Houben in the Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam on Monday. The 150 thousand euros Prince Bernhard Culture Prize is annually awarded by the Prince Berhnhard Culture Fund to a person or institution with a strong track record in terms of culture and nature in the Netherlands. The award was given to Francine Houben because of her "decades long rack record as a leading international architect", according to the fund. "Her design style is characterized by a combination of aesthetics, friendliness and hospitality." Houben's buildings are seen as examples of people-centered architecture that is consistent with local culture. Last week King Willem Alexander awarded the Erasmus Prize, also 150 thousand euros, to the Wikipedia Community.