Visit by Dutch royals continues centuries of ties to Albany

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Ian Pickus

Published June 5, 2024 at 2:18 PM EDT

King Willem-Alexander leaves Nieuwe Kerk or New Church in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, after the inauguration Tuesday April 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Carl Court, Pool)

A new chapter is about to be written in Albany’s centuries-long history with the Dutch.

The king and queen of the Netherlands are coming to the Capital Region on June 12 to meet with the governor, local Dutch businesses leaders, and area young people.

And for some perspective on the affinity between the Dutch and their former Fort Orange settlement, we speak with author and journalist Paul Grondahl. Grondahl has written extensively on the topic in books, for the "Times Union," and since taking over as the head of the New York State Writers Institute.

He spoke with WAMC's Ian Pickus.

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Ian Pickus

A lifelong resident of the Capital Region, Ian joined WAMC in 2008 and became news director in 2013. He began working on Morning Edition and has produced The Capitol Connection, produced and hosted the Congressional Corner, and several other WAMC programs. Ian can also be heard as the host of the WAMC News Podcast and on The Roundtable and newscasts. Ian holds a BA in English and journalism and an MA in English, both from the University at Albany, where he has taught journalism since 2013.

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