The day-to-day management at Twente had appointed a committee to look into this as early as May 1964. The programme for the day had to be settled, but the committee also had to fix the guest list for the opening. By no means everybody would be able to attend and even if that were possible, it would make the event far too unwieldy. This problem was resolved with an open day, when the Twente locals could visit the campus. The committee marked out three high points for the day itself. First of all came the official transfer of the Drienerlo estate to the Polytechnic, followed by the official opening by Her Majesty Queen Juliana in a public meeting of the Senate, followed finally by a reception hosted by the Board of Governors. The weather was perfect on opening day. A number of organisations offered gifts to the Board of Governors in the morning. The Polytechnic Fund, for instance, contributed to the laying of a cinder track. The Queen and her consort arrived at Twente air base to be greeted by the Curators, the Rector and the Assessors. President Curator Van Nispen tot Pannerden, who had succeeded De van der Schueren, welcomed the guests and Mayor Thomassen briefly described the Polytechnic’s origin, at the same time officially handing over the Drienerlo estate to the Polytechnic. Principal architects Van Tijen and Van Embden showed the company a model of the campus, after which the guests sounded a carillon, which had been presented earlier in the day by the surrounding communities. The Royal couple then visited the Calslaan to hear the Io Vivat! while a thousand doves and balloons were released. The guests also visited a student flat. Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard took lunch in the refectory together with the Campus Council and the students. A guided tour of the campus followed the lunch.[20a & b]
[19] The Dahlia Club, evidently with one female member (extreme right) [20a] The Royal couple on a tour of the campus [20b] Queen Juliana meets the first Twente students [21] Procession during the Polytechnic’s opening ceremony
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