'I choke up whenever I see that man, I could cry of joy' a woman with a South African flag in her hands said. 'His charisma, it's incredible'.

Mandela, with his wife Graca Machel at his side clearly enjoyed his welcome in the Dutch capital. The canal boats 'President John F. Kennedy' on which Mandela could be seen sitting on the outside deck, wearing a fur hat, was buried under flowers. The boat had a variegated group of people on board. In addition to the host, Mr. Patijn, the guests included princess Margriet and Pieter van Vollenhoven, former Mayor Van Thijn of Amsterdam, soccer player Ruud Gullit and the South African Ajax-player Benni McCartey.