.op ‘Being a guard of honour at the wedding, that’s really unique’This is Article 5 in our special series on the Royal Wedding of Prince Alexander and Maxima.
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George Roskot (22), a fourth year student of Maritime Engineering, will be at the Rokin in Amsterdam on February 2. Not % like the crowd % behind the barriers, but in front of them. In full regalia, he and fourteen other members of his weerbaarheid (able bodied men’s group) will be saluting the golden carriage. The green uniforms and the headgear with the feathers have been stored safely at the army depot in Rijswijk for days. Everything is ready for the big day.
The Delftse Studenten Weerbaarheid (DSW), a sub union of the Delftsch Studenten Corps, goes back more than one hundred years. This was the time when students sought to master the art of archery, lend support to the army and fight side by side for king and country. However, nowadays very little fighting goes on and in wartime the DSW is abolished. Training at the shooting range is one of few things that is left of the Weerbaarheid. After September 11 a number of shooting ranges temporarily closed their doors, which is why the men have been ‘experiencing withdrawal symptoms’ for nearly half a year. So, they are left with merely formal tasks, such as being an honorary guard during the yearly official Queen’s Speech and now also during the Willem-Alexander and Maximá’s wedding.
”Being an honorary guard during the wedding is really unique”, according to Roskot.
Ever since he was sure that he would be there, Roskot seizes every opportunity to read articles about the wedding. ”You never know if something might be relevant,” he says ”so I try to read pretty much everything.”
Besides that, there is little else to prepare. The planning for the day itself was settled weeks ago, thanks to the army. ”Those guys really need to draw up a tight schedule long beforehand” Roskot continues. His weerbaarheid is to be at the army depot in Rijswijk in the early hours of Saturday. ”All weerbaarheden (from all over the country) will be gathering, so the atmosphere on the scene should be great. The bus ride also has its fun sides,” Roskot believes. ”We sometimes get a police-escort for the trip.”
He is also pleased with the spot that has been allocated to his weerbaarheid. ”A nice area with lots of cameras so were bound to make it onto TV.”
How pronounced are his Orange sentiments? ”They’re not too bad, I think it’s all great, but I’m especially looking forward to after party, with the other weerbaarheden, held at the Amsterdam Studenten Corps” he confesses. ”February second is going to be a great party; February third is going to be a hangover.”
.op ‘Being a guard of honour at the wedding, that’s really unique’
This is Article 5 in our special series on the Royal Wedding of Prince Alexander and Maxima.
George Roskot (22), a fourth year student of Maritime Engineering, will be at the Rokin in Amsterdam on February 2. Not % like the crowd % behind the barriers, but in front of them. In full regalia, he and fourteen other members of his weerbaarheid (able bodied men’s group) will be saluting the golden carriage. The green uniforms and the headgear with the feathers have been stored safely at the army depot in Rijswijk for days. Everything is ready for the big day.
The Delftse Studenten Weerbaarheid (DSW), a sub union of the Delftsch Studenten Corps, goes back more than one hundred years. This was the time when students sought to master the art of archery, lend support to the army and fight side by side for king and country. However, nowadays very little fighting goes on and in wartime the DSW is abolished. Training at the shooting range is one of few things that is left of the Weerbaarheid. After September 11 a number of shooting ranges temporarily closed their doors, which is why the men have been ‘experiencing withdrawal symptoms’ for nearly half a year. So, they are left with merely formal tasks, such as being an honorary guard during the yearly official Queen’s Speech and now also during the Willem-Alexander and Maximá’s wedding.
”Being an honorary guard during the wedding is really unique”, according to Roskot.
Ever since he was sure that he would be there, Roskot seizes every opportunity to read articles about the wedding. ”You never know if something might be relevant,” he says ”so I try to read pretty much everything.”
Besides that, there is little else to prepare. The planning for the day itself was settled weeks ago, thanks to the army. ”Those guys really need to draw up a tight schedule long beforehand” Roskot continues. His weerbaarheid is to be at the army depot in Rijswijk in the early hours of Saturday. ”All weerbaarheden (from all over the country) will be gathering, so the atmosphere on the scene should be great. The bus ride also has its fun sides,” Roskot believes. ”We sometimes get a police-escort for the trip.”
He is also pleased with the spot that has been allocated to his weerbaarheid. ”A nice area with lots of cameras so were bound to make it onto TV.”
How pronounced are his Orange sentiments? ”They’re not too bad, I think it’s all great, but I’m especially looking forward to after party, with the other weerbaarheden, held at the Amsterdam Studenten Corps” he confesses. ”February second is going to be a great party; February third is going to be a hangover.”
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