The private visit of HM King Mohammed VI in Amsterdam this weekend sparked many in the Dutch Press which was surprised to see the King discussing and taking pictures with young Dutch of Moroccan origin without any protoco.
The Dutch press was surprised to see the King of Morocco walking with ease in the city of Amsterdam and made many comments on « the relaxed and natural personality » of HM the King. The newspapers spoke of the meetings with the young Dutch Moroccans happy to take pictures with a head of state, away from the a priori they had on His Majesty.
Dutch media have also been surprised by the number of young and older Dutch citizens of Moroccan origin, happy to talk and take pictures with HM King away from any protocol. It was a unique « event » in the Kingdom of Oranje.
HM the King who had previously met the Moroccans of the world in Russia, during his official visit to Russia, but incognito in Prague and Budapest was greeted with the same fervor and aroused the admiration of the local media.
Simplicity, humility, veiled admiration in the Dutch media not used to see kings, queens and presidents walking like any citizen in their cities.
The newspaper « Trouw » insisted on the normalcy of the King adding “King Mohammed VI wore a colorful winter sweater and walked around late Friday evening in Amsterdam.”
While « Het Parool » reports that dozens of people waited for HM the King, outside his hotel, before he went out and “took pictures with the crowd of admirers to whom he offered tea and Moroccan cookies”.
De Telegraaf, a popular newspaper in the Netherlands, meanwhile, stressed the “normality and the “humility” of HM the King and the promenade in Amsterdam.
CCME / Dutch press sources
