Festivities marking the 200th anniversary of the founding of the modern Dutch state kicked off with the attendance of thousands of people, who braved cold and rainy weather.

"Today, 200 years ago in 1813, the seed was sown for what would later become the Kingdom of the Netherlands," King Willem-Alexander said in a speech at the historic Knights' Hall, which stands cheek-by-jowl to the Dutch parliament in The Hague.
"Happy birthday," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte added, saying Saturday marked the official birth of the modern Dutch constitutional monarchy.
Prince Willem Frederik's 1813 landing at the beach at Scheveningen, today a popular seaside suburb, is widely seen as setting in motion the formation of the modern Dutch state.
The prince arrived there after 18 years in exile under French rule, which ended with Napoleon Bonaparte's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig a month before, in October 1813.
Napoleon's loss resulted in the destruction of much of what was left of French power in the Netherlands, Germany and Poland.
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"Today we are celebrating what we've achieved over 200 years," Rutte said.
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King Willem-Alexander remains the head of state, but the country is today ruled by decisions made by the Dutch parliament.
The bicentennial celebrations will continue on various dates over the next two years, ending in September 2015 in the Dutch capital Amsterdam, organisers said.
The calendar includes festivities on Saint Martin, which together with Curacao and Aruba forms part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean.
Source-AFP