King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands appeared to be approached by a “confused” man during a recent official visit.
The 59-year-old monarch was in Ursem, North Holland, greeting members of the public when the man bypassed royal security and moved towards him, breaching protocol.
Footage obtained by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf showed Willem-Alexander appearing startled and raising his hands after realising how close the man had come.
Local media reported that the man appeared distressed and said he needed help. The video showed the king attempting to calm him before police officers escorted him away.
The Dutch Government Service later said the man had wanted to “convey his message to the king”, stressing that there had been “no question of an attack”.
The incident follows Willem-Alexander’s discreet visit to Merseyside on November 3. During the trip, he toured the Birkenhead shipyard at the University of Liverpool, visited Anfield and attended an evening reception at the town hall.
King Willem-Alexander appeared to be confronted by a “confused” man during a recent official engagement
The 59-year-old Dutch king was greeting people in Ursem, North Holland, when the incident unfolded
“I thank the city and all of you for your hospitality,” he said during a speech. “I look back with great pleasure on a day full of entrepreneurial spirit and opportunities, with a focus on sport, community spirit and the rich culture of Liverpool.
“Liverpool can be proud of what the city has produced. And there is still much beauty to come. May this day contribute to that in a positive way!”
As the king continued his busy schedule, his wife, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, took a break from official duties for a rare night out, dancing at a DJ event in Amsterdam last month.
The 55-year-old queen and her 21-year-old daughter, Princess Alexia, attended a set by US artist Armand Van Helden during the annual five-day Amsterdam Dance Event, which ran from October 21 to 25.
The mother and daughter are reportedly enthusiastic fans of the house music star. Alexia was even said to have travelled from London, where she is studying for a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at UCL, specifically to attend the performance.
Rare footage showed the Dutch royals dancing energetically among the crowd and chatting with fellow fans backstage on October 24 as they enjoyed the evening.
This was not the first time Maxima and her children have attended a public concert. The queen and Willem-Alexander have previously been spotted at performances by artists including Lady Gaga, Jay-Z and Beyoncé.
For the dance music event, Queen Maxima wore a chic black top with lace detailing, completing the look with chunky gold earrings and a statement necklace. Her daughter opted for a stylish one-shoulder top.
De Telegraaf footage showed Willem-Alexander looking startled and raising his hands after noticing how close the man had come
Following the performance, the venue Hemkade48 wrote on social media that it was “proud to have welcomed Queen Maxima and Princess Alexia to Hemkade during ADE!”
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The venue added: “Turns out the Queen is a huge fan of Armand Van Helden. A first in our venue’s 32-year history.”
Willem-Alexander and Maxima are also keen supporters of the arts. In October, the couple made a private visit to Dutch Design Week, offering a rare sighting during a three-week period with fewer public engagements.
They visited several exhibitors’ stands and spoke to designers about their innovative work during a quieter period in the royal calendar, partly because of the Netherlands’ autumn school holidays.
In April, the Dutch royals met Donald and Melania Trump at the White House, where they attended dinner and stayed overnight during a three-day working visit to the United States that also included stops in Philadelphia and Miami.
Maxima wore a long-sleeved orange dress, while First Lady Melania, 56, looked elegant in a white gown decorated with black floral detailing.
The Trumps were pictured waiting on a red carpet before greeting the Dutch royal couple and Rob Jetten, the Netherlands’ prime minister, ahead of the dinner.
Willem-Alexander, 59, and the President shook hands when they arrived as their wives smiled beside them. Both men wore navy suits and ties.
The Dutch royals’ visit followed Queen Maxima’s clarification of comments made after she appeared to “mock” Trump on television the previous year.
In July, she stood beside the President as they posed for photographs after he arrived in the Netherlands for the NATO summit.
During a brief exchange, Maxima appeared to imitate the movement of Trump’s mouth and pulled a facial expression before turning towards the cameras.
The fleeting moment was noticed by social media users, one of whom wrote: “You have to watch how Queen Maxima of the Netherlands mocks Trump’s speaking right in front of him.”
CNN journalist Vani Mehrotra also wrote on X: “Did she really do that? Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is believed to be mocking Donald Trump.”
However, Maxima later explained what had happened during the Dutch royals’ annual summer photo session that month.
Speaking to Dutch outlet AD, she said she had “said ‘thank you’ to someone who had helped” and described her meeting with the President as a “pleasant experience”.
Meanwhile, her eldest daughter and heir to the throne, 22-year-old Princess Catharina-Amalia, said it was “really cool” to meet “the president of America”.
Elsewhere in the footage, the trio smiled for the cameras as Trump gave a thumbs-up.
Trump and the king chatted and shared a laugh, while Maxima stood to the side and continued smiling.