Dutch Princess threat plot: Man found with axes and ‘bloodbath’ note; police probe on

The Hague: A 33-year-old man is set to appear in court next week after being detained on suspicion of planning an attack on two members of the Dutch royal family, Princess Catharina-Amalia and her younger sister Princess Alexia.

The suspect is due for a preliminary hearing on Monday morning. Authorities said he was arrested in The Hague in February.

Officials revealed that the man was found in possession of two axes bearing the engravings “Alexia”, “Mossad” and “Sieg Heil”, a phrase associated with Nazi ideology.

At the time of his arrest, he was also carrying a handwritten note that included the words “Amalia”, “Alexia” and “bloodbath”.

Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive behind the alleged plan.

Royal family continues public appearances

Despite the reported security concerns, the Dutch royal family continued with Koningsdag, or King’s Day, celebrations on Monday. They took part in public festivities, interacted with crowds and joined activities on ice.

The national holiday marks the 59th birthday of King Willem-Alexander.

Past threats against Princess Catharina-Amalia

This is not the first instance in which Princess Catharina-Amalia’s safety has been under threat. In 2020, she went into hiding after receiving messages from a man who threatened her with rape and violence.

In 2022, she had to leave her student accommodation in Amsterdam due to security concerns and moved to the royal palace in The Hague, which is heavily guarded.

Queen Maxima spoke at the time about the impact on her daughter’s life.

“She can’t live in Amsterdam and she can’t really go outside the palace. It has enormous consequences on her life,” she said.

Concerns over kidnapping threats

Fears later emerged that the princess had been identified as a potential kidnapping target by drug cartels. Princess Catharina-Amalia, who speaks Spanish fluently, spent about a year living in Madrid after leaving the Netherlands.

Reports of intercepted communications between gang members suggested that both the princess and then Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte were being considered as targets.

Links to organised crime fears

Ridouan Taghi, once considered one of Europe’s most powerful drug lords, denied any involvement in a plot against the princess. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment for five murders following the Marengo Trial in 2024.

Even before the verdict, concerns had been raised about violence linked to the case. Taghi is believed to have ordered three killings connected to the trial, including those of a lawyer, a television journalist and the brother of a key prosecution witness.

These incidents increased fears that he continued to direct criminal activities from prison and raised concerns about the influence of organised crime in the Netherlands.

Return home after tighter security

Princess Catharina-Amalia, who holds the title Princess of Orange, returned to the Netherlands in 2024 after stronger security measures were introduced.

Reflecting on the impact of the threats on her life, she said, “I miss normal life, the life of a student. Walking the streets, going to a store.”

Agency inputs