Queen Beatrix to Take Her Own Train to the Railway Museum

UTRECHT, The Netherlands, March 30, 2010 - On 14 April, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will open the exhibition
'Royal Class, regal journeys'. The Queen will arrive at the museum in the
royal train, which will then be put on display. The exhibition - which will
be open to the public from 15 April to 5 September - gives the public a
chance to view the railway carriages used by the various royal houses.

The Dutch Railway Museum was reopened in 2005 after major renovation, and
this exhibition marks its 5th anniversary. For the first time ever,
historical royal trains from all over Europe can be seen in a single
exhibition. After a regal reception in the Royal Waiting Room, visitors will
be led past the gleaming royal carriages by actors dressed as historic
figures who will explain the connection between royalty and the railways.

European royalty

Museums all over Europe have lent exhibits to the Railway Museum.
Visitors can admire a carriage used by the British Queen Adelaide (1842), a
complete train built for the Portuguese Queen Maria Pia (1858), a panel from
the royal train used by the Austrian Empress Sissi (1858), furnishings from
Bavarian King Ludwig II's royal train (1860), the interior of Czar Alexander
II's carriage (1870), and carriages used by King Christiaan IX of Denmark
(1871), King Edward VII of Britain (1902), Archduke Franz Ferdinand of
Austro-Hungary (1910), King Albert I of Belgium (1912), Swedish King Carl
Gustav (1930) and King Boris of Bulgaria (1938).

Dutch royal carriages

The carriages used by Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard and the
present-day carriage used by Queen Beatrix will be open to the public. In
addition, the Railway Museum is building a replica of the saloon car
originally built in 1864 for Queen Anna Paulowna.

Arrival: 14 April at 3 p.m.

Press accreditation should be requested by 9 April; please send an email
giving name(s), medium and position(s) to e.d.rooij@spoorwegmuseum.nl. In the
event of oversubscription it might be necessary to impose restrictions. Media
representatives will be informed about this by email on 12 April.

Press preview

A press preview will be held on Tuesday 13 April from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Please register with Evertjan de Rooij before 9 April.

www.royalclass.info

For further information: Evertjan de Rooij, PR & Communications, tel +31(0)30-230-6262, email e.d.rooij at spoorwegmuseum.nl