The size of the 15-strong Friesland province delegation to this week’s Henry Hudson celebrations in New York has been criticised by home affairs minister Guusje ter Horst, the NRC reports on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the province told the paper Ter Horst was ‘furious’ that so many local officials had gone to the festivities – which mark 400 years of contact between the Netherlands and New York.
The 15 member Frisian group includes the queen’s commissioner, three executive board members, six councillors and five civil servants. The other 11 Dutch provinces have each sent three people, while national government has sent 25.
Friesland queen’s commissioner John Jorritsma has written to prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende defending the €300,000 bill, the paper says. Most of the cash is being spent on promoting Friesland, he said. ‘We see it as an investment, not a waste of money,’ he told the paper.
For US newspaper reports on the festivities in New York, click here