Dutch King forced to send heir into hiding after 'terrible' threats from organised crime

The Dutch King was forced to send his eldest daughter and heir into hiding after she became the subject of "terrible" threats from organised crime gangs, the Royal Family revealed.

Princess Catharina-Amalia, 20, secretly moved to Madrid last year after her family was warned about potential risks she faced while living in student accommodations in Amsterdam.

The Princess of Orange said she was "grateful" to have found shelter in Spain after Dutch intelligence picked up chatter among organised crime gangs about a potential plan to kidnap or attack her.

Security services initially had the 20-year-old royal move back to Huis ten Bosch Palace, her family's official residence in The Hague, and only allowed her to leave the residence to attend class.

But last week, Catharina-Amalia revealed she had spent the past year living in Spain as she joined her parents, King Willem-Amexander and Queen Maxima, and sisters Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane to mark King's Day in Emmen.

Speaking to Dutch media, she said: "Of course, it was strange circumstances that made me go there.

"I'm still very grateful to everyone who made it possible for me to walk around there in freedom. I managed to find a little more freedom there than was possible here. The Netherlands is my home, so it's nice to be here again."

The Dutch King said the threats hadn't allowed his eldest daughter to "spread her wings" as someone her age should have but he thanked Spain for the help provided.

He personally thanked King Felipe and Queen Letizia during their state visit to The Netherlands last month for the support their country had given Catherina-Amalia during the "terrible" circumstances.

Willem-Alexander said: "Last year, circumstances required her to live in Madrid. From there, she was able to continue her studies at the University of Amsterdam. This was made possible by the kind efforts of many of your compatriots and yourselves.

"A touching demonstration of friendship at a difficult time. I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to you and to everyone else who helped arrange this."

Spain was a fitting choice as Princess Catharina-Amalia, by virtue of her mother's Argentinian origins, speaks fluent Spanish.

The King also highlighted how Spain played a pivotal role in his romance with his wife Maxima as he noted in his speech the pair first met in Seville in 1999.

He added: "Spain has a special place in our hearts. First of all, because it was in your country that our life together began.

"We were at the Feria de Abril in Seville 25 years ago. The sparks began to fly. The rest is history."

Princess Catharina-Amalia became the heir apparent to the Dutch throne upon the accession of her father in 2013.

Despite her forced move to Madrid last year, the royal continued to carry out official engagements alongside her family – she joined the King and Queen on a tour of the Dutch Caribbean in January 2023 and in May joined her grandmother, HRH Princess Beatrix, to attend King Charles III's Coronation.