Today marks the start of the new academic year at Delft University of Technology. For Princess Ariane, this also marks the start of a new chapter: the youngest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima is starting her Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering today.

With her choice of degree programme, Ariane is following in the footsteps of her uncle, Prince Friso, who also studied Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft. The prince studied there from 1988 to 1994 and obtained his engineering degree. His legacy in the field of engineering lives on, amongst other things, in the Prince Friso Engineering Award, which KIVI awards annually to an engineer who stands out for their technical expertise, innovative spirit, entrepreneurial drive, social impact and role as an ambassador within the field.

The degree programme at Delft University of Technology is renowned as one of the most technically demanding university programmes in the Netherlands and focuses, amongst other things, on aerodynamics, aircraft and aerospace structures, propulsion and control systems. Over the coming years, Ariane will delve deeper into these various disciplines and become acquainted with the broad field of aerospace engineering.

Photographs from the Government Information Service show Princess Ariane posing in front of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering on her first day of studies and entering the faculty building.

We wish Princess Ariane and all the students starting their studies every success and enjoyment. We look forward to the new generation of engineers who, in the coming years, will use their knowledge and talent to shape the world of tomorrow.