1 time art, 2 times culture. The Throne Speech makes up for years of silence on arts and culture in 4 sentences.

'The government wants to encourage thriving arts and culture and expose all young people to it early. Children up to the age of 12 will be given free admission to museums in 2009. Young people up to 18 years can use a culture card to get acquainted with the inspiring wealth of our country.'

We are writing 2008 and the world looked different from the long years that followed. Queen Beatrix spoke of plans in the field of arts and culture in that year's Speech from the Throne. Since then, she has been silent, as has her successor...