# 27 prize winners get royal lunch at Noordeinde Palace

> King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima welcomed people who recently won a prize or distinction, including the duo Suzan & Freek, to Paleis Noordeinde in The Hague on Tuesday.

Society · published 2026-10-27 15:10 · https://nlnow.nl/a/king-and-queen-host-lunch-for-27-award-winners/

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima held their 42nd "uitblinkerslunch", a lunch for high achievers, on Tuesday. In all, 27 people who recently received a prize or distinction were invited to lunch with the royal couple at Paleis Noordeinde, the palace in Den Haag.

Guests included the music duo Suzan & Freek, columnist Yesim Candan and presenter Merel Westrik.

The King and Queen hold the lunch a few times a year to recognise people who have achieved something special in their field. They want to show their appreciation for what the guests have accomplished.

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