Doetinchem Mayor excited for royal visit, transport running smoothly despite crowds

As Doetinchem prepares for a busy King’s Day celebration with the royal family’s visit, transport services are running smoothly, despite the increased crowds. Arriva, the regional transport company, reported that trains and buses to the city are bustling with travelers. Extra trains have been deployed to accommodate the influx of people heading to the Achterhoek region.

"It’s pleasantly busy," an Arriva spokesperson said. "People are cheerful, and we’ve been able to manage the crowd effectively." Those driving to Doetinchem can use shuttle buses from two special parking lots to reach the city center. "Everything is going very well there too," the spokesperson continued. "The atmosphere is lively, and we’re able to handle the volume of people comfortably."

In the heart of the city, Mayor Mark Boumans is eagerly anticipating the royal visit. "It will be a beautiful and special day in the heart of the Achterhoek," Boumans said, expressing his pride that the royal family had chosen Doetinchem to celebrate King Willem-Alexander’s birthday. "We have put together a wonderful program, with the region as the centerpiece."

The mayor also took a moment to acknowledge the community’s efforts in preparing for the day. "There are about 300,000 people in the Achterhoek," he noted. "I think half of them are directly or indirectly involved in organizing the event." Boumans praised the collective spirit: "We’ve really pulled together to make this a success."

However, the royal walk, a key highlight of the visit, will begin an hour later than planned. This change was made in response to the funeral of Pope Francis, which is taking place on the same day. "It’s a special development," Boumans admitted. "We had accounted for many things, but the death of the Pope wasn’t part of our planning."

Despite the schedule adjustment, Boumans emphasized the importance of being sensitive to the occasion. "We’ve worked in close consultation with everyone involved to make sure we handle the situation in the best way possible," he said.