Stories from Dokkum · Netherlands

Princess Ariane of the Netherlands will study aerospace engineering at TU Delft starting next year. She described the opportunity as enormous. The youngest princess is currently taking a gap year. A 31-year-old woman from Enschede was arrested in connection with a shooting incident in the city center last night.

A court has prohibited anti-monarchy protesters from bringing a 10-meter-high inflatable dinosaur named Wim to Dokkum. The town is where King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was scheduled to hold his annual birthday celebration. An activist group placed a large inflatable dinosaur in Dokkum, near the route for the Dutch King's procession. The group views the dinosaur as a symbol of the past, similar to the monarchy. A court in the Netherlands has banned a dinosaur-shaped float from participating in King Willem-Alexander's birthday celebrations. The decision was made in response to concerns about the float's suitability. The ban was initially put in place to ensure the appropriateness of displays at the King's event. The group stated the dinosaur symbolizes the monarchy as a relic of the past and an obstruction.

The mayor of Dokkum announced a capacity limit of 25,000 visitors for the upcoming King's Day celebrations. The local municipal council initiated the proposal to host large-scale events within the municipality. The Mayor discussed the plan with the King's Commissioner before presenting it to the Royal House in The Hague. This decision follows concerns regarding overcrowding in larger cities like Amsterdam. King's Day celebrations are underway in Dokkum, Netherlands, with Princess Amalia present in a red dress. Some individuals climbed onto a shed roof to observe the festivities, while others waved flags. King Willem-Alexander celebrated his birthday in Dokkum, Friesland. The royal family engaged with local culture, including traditional Friesian sports and performances by dancers and musicians. The event also included a horse parade.