King and Queen watch live as Thorbecke Academy students take part in crisis simulation
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima visited the Kop van Drenthe region on Tuesday. During their stop at the town hall in Assen, the royal couple attended a simulated crisis scenario performed by students from NHL Stenden’s Thorbecke Academy.
The royal visit to the region focused on the combination of nature, culture, business and history that characterises the northern part of Drenthe. In Assen, one of the stops on the visit, the programme included discussions about safety, resilience and youth culture: themes that come together at NHL Stenden’s Thorbecke Academy.
At the town hall, staff and students from the Thorbecke Academy had set up a crisis simulation room. Marc Otto, Chair of the Executive Board of NHL Stenden, was there to introduce Willem-Alexander and Máxima to the Safety Campus and explain how it contributes to a safe and resilient society.
Student Thijs Esschendal and lecturer Jelle Rienstra, from the Safety and Security Management programme, explained the crisis simulation to the royal couple. The scenario was based on a major incident at the TT Circuit in Assen. During the meeting, participants worked together to determine the best course of action, while the situation became increasingly complex.
Safety Campus
The Safety Campus, of which the Thorbecke Academy is part, is a unique partnership between educational institutions (senior secondary vocational education, universities of applied sciences and research universities), public authorities, regional safety authorities, the Ministry of Defence and other partners in the safety and security sector. It provides students, researchers and professionals with the education and preparation they need to tackle the safety and security challenges of tomorrow.
