Australia welcomes Dutch royal couple on 400th anniversary of Dirk Hartog landing

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has welcomed to Canberra the King and Queen of the Netherlands on the 400th anniversary of Dirk Hartog's landing in Western Australia (WA).

In his welcoming address at Parliament House on Wednesday, Turnbull told King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima that the relationship between Australia and the Netherlands was a long-standing and friendly one.

The association began as long ago as 1616 when Hartog, a 17th-century Dutch sailor and explorer, landed on the WA coast. He was part of the second group of Europeans to land in Australia and the first to leave behind an artifact to record his visit, the Hartog plate.

"Our two countries have such a lot in common," Turnbull told the royal couple on Wednesday. "We both have a strong maritime tradition, both countries dedicated to democracy and the rule of law in the maintenance of the international order upon which all of our prosperity and security depends.

"This visit of course marks the 400th anniversary of the landing of Dirk Hartog in Western Australia -- a reminder of the relationship between Australia and the Netherlands is of very, very long standing.

"Of course, in recent times, our servicemen and women have fought side by side in the Uruzgan province in Afghanistan and we are partners in a global coalition against Daesh (Islamic State)."

Turnbull also said the downing in July 2014 of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, a passenger jet which carried many Dutch and Australian passengers, had brought the two countries "closer together than ever".

"We want to reiterate our firm commitment with you, to ensuring that justice is done and those responsible for that act of terrorism, that act of murder are brought to account and will see the punishment they deserve," Turnbull said.

In response, King Willem-Alexander thanked the Australia government for its hospitality in welcoming the Dutch delegation on their state visit.

"Dirk Hartog stayed for two days but a couple of hundred thousand of the Dutch since then have stayed for much longer, making Australia their home, finding their new life in this country," he said.

"I think, as a historian, I attach great value to commemorate the historical moments but they are only worthwhile if we also have a common future otherwise it is not worth it celebrating the past.

"We can talk about these topics here today and we can have a good discussion and work on our future, the next 400 years of Australia and the Netherlands," he said. Enditem