PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Gov. Josh Shapiro and the First Lady welcomed the King and Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United States on Friday.

During the visit, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Maxima toured Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell with the Governor and First Lady Lori Shapiro.

A round-table discussion was also held with CEOs of Dutch multinational businesses to encourage investment in the state and to highlight the long-standing relationship between the Netherlands and Pennsylvania.

“We’re honored to welcome Their Majesties to the Commonwealth as we celebrate the historic friendship between Pennsylvania and the Netherlands,” said Governor Shapiro. “For centuries, our people have benefited from this productive relationship and my Administration looks forward to strengthening those ties and our shared commitment to economic opportunity and innovation.”

The Netherlands are Pennsylvania’s sixth-largest job creator and 16th-largest trading partner. In 2025, trade between the Netherlands and the state totaled $3.7 billion, up 17 percent from 2024, with more than $1.6 billion in total trade of pharmaceutical products.

Following the tour of Independence Hall, the Governor and First Lady joined Their Majesties for a roundtable discussion with CEOs of Dutch multinational businesses to discuss economic ties and opportunities for further investments in the state.

At the meeting, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger and Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma signed a Letter of Understanding, detailing plans for future economic collaboration in advanced manufacturing and robotics, life sciences, agriculture, sports and academia.

“The Netherlands is one of the largest foreign investors in the United States with a very strong presence in Pennsylvania,” said DCED Secretary Siger. “The Shapiro Administration is working to build that relationship further by making it easier to do business in the Commonwealth and creating an attractive ecosystem for companies in life sciences, agriculture, tech and advanced manufacturing. Our Authorized Investment Representatives based in the Netherlands and other strategic markets are ready to work with businesses to explore new investment opportunities here in Pennsylvania and eliminate the barriers companies may encounter entering a new foreign market.”

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Demonstrating this commitment, Dutch VB Greenhouses BV and US Little Leaf Farms PA LLC signed a contract after the meeting that plans to build a commercial greenhouse facility in Banks Township and expand Little Leaf Farms property into the largest leafy greens campus in the world.

“Our partnership with the Netherlands is rooted in a shared vision for the future of agriculture – one driven by innovation, sustainability and the ability to feed communities at home around the world,” said Agriculture Secretary Russel Redding.

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