https://sg.news.yahoo.com/dutch-princesses-targeted-nazi-axe-114044548.html
Fri, 1 May 2026 at 11:32 pm SGT
A 33-year-old man is in custody suspected of plotting to kill Princess Alexia of The Netherlands, 20, and her sister, Princess Catharina-Amalia, 22 - Getty
A suspected far-Right extremist has been arrested over an alleged plot to kill two Dutch princesses, including the future queen of the Netherlands.
Prosecutors believe the man, 33, was targeting Princess Catharina-Amalia, 22, the heir apparent to the Dutch throne, and her sister Princess Alexia, 20, the second in line.
The suspect was allegedly found with two axes engraved with “Alexia”, “Mossad” (the name of Israel’s intelligence agency) and Sieg Heil, a verbal salute used by Nazis.
He was also reported to have had a handwritten note with the words “Amalia”, “Alexia” and “bloodbath” when he was arrested in The Hague in February, Dutch authorities revealed.
The suspect faces a preliminary court hearing on Monday morning before a later court date. The authorities have not revealed a possible motive.
Princesses Ariane, Catharina-Amalia and Alexia with their mother, Queen Maxima - Getty
The princesses feared to be targets are the eldest two daughters of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Máxima, 54. They have a younger sister, Princess Ariane, who is 19.
Despite the threats, the royal family celebrated Koningsdag – King’s Day – on Monday by attending a street party, meeting the public and ice skating. The day is a national holiday to marks the birthday of the Dutch monarch, King Willem-Alexander, 59.
It is not the first time there have been fears for the safety of Princess Catharina-Amalia. In 2020, she went into hiding after a man threatened her with rape and violence in a series of messages.
King Willem-Alexander and his family greet the crowds in Dokkum on King’s Day, a national holiday for his birthday - Getty
Two years later, she was forced to leave her student accommodation in Amsterdam because of concerns for her safety. She returned to the heavily guarded royal palace in The Hague.
Queen Máxima said at the time: “She can’t live in Amsterdam and she can’t really go outside [the palace]. It has enormous consequences on her life.”
Princess Catharina-Amalia, who speaks Spanish fluently, fled the country to live in Madrid for a year because of fears she was a target for kidnapping by a drug cartels.
Princess Catharina Amalia (left) lived in Madrid for a year amid fears she was a kidnap target of one of Europe’s most dangerous drug lords - Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images
She and Mark Rutte, the then Dutch prime minister, had been mentioned in intercepted communications between gang members, indicating they could be a target.
Ridouan Taghi, once said to be Europe’s most powerful drug lord, denied any plot against the princess before he was sentenced to life in prison for five murders following the Marengo Trial in 2024.
Before his sentencing, Taghi is thought to have ordered three murders connected to the trial, including a lawyer, a TV journalist and the brother of a crown witness.
The gangland hits led to fears that Taghi was still running his criminal empire from prison and that the Netherlands had become a narco-state, with powerful gangs waging war.
Dutch princesses ‘targeted in Nazi axe plot’
James CrispFri, 1 May 2026 at 11:32 pm SGT
A 33-year-old man is in custody suspected of plotting to kill Princess Alexia of The Netherlands, 20, and her sister, Princess Catharina-Amalia, 22 - Getty
A suspected far-Right extremist has been arrested over an alleged plot to kill two Dutch princesses, including the future queen of the Netherlands.
Prosecutors believe the man, 33, was targeting Princess Catharina-Amalia, 22, the heir apparent to the Dutch throne, and her sister Princess Alexia, 20, the second in line.
The suspect was allegedly found with two axes engraved with “Alexia”, “Mossad” (the name of Israel’s intelligence agency) and Sieg Heil, a verbal salute used by Nazis.
He was also reported to have had a handwritten note with the words “Amalia”, “Alexia” and “bloodbath” when he was arrested in The Hague in February, Dutch authorities revealed.
The suspect faces a preliminary court hearing on Monday morning before a later court date. The authorities have not revealed a possible motive.
Princesses Ariane, Catharina-Amalia and Alexia with their mother, Queen Maxima - Getty
The princesses feared to be targets are the eldest two daughters of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Máxima, 54. They have a younger sister, Princess Ariane, who is 19.
Despite the threats, the royal family celebrated Koningsdag – King’s Day – on Monday by attending a street party, meeting the public and ice skating. The day is a national holiday to marks the birthday of the Dutch monarch, King Willem-Alexander, 59.
It is not the first time there have been fears for the safety of Princess Catharina-Amalia. In 2020, she went into hiding after a man threatened her with rape and violence in a series of messages.
King Willem-Alexander and his family greet the crowds in Dokkum on King’s Day, a national holiday for his birthday - Getty
Two years later, she was forced to leave her student accommodation in Amsterdam because of concerns for her safety. She returned to the heavily guarded royal palace in The Hague.
Queen Máxima said at the time: “She can’t live in Amsterdam and she can’t really go outside [the palace]. It has enormous consequences on her life.”
Princess Catharina-Amalia, who speaks Spanish fluently, fled the country to live in Madrid for a year because of fears she was a target for kidnapping by a drug cartels.
Princess Catharina Amalia (left) lived in Madrid for a year amid fears she was a kidnap target of one of Europe’s most dangerous drug lords - Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images
She and Mark Rutte, the then Dutch prime minister, had been mentioned in intercepted communications between gang members, indicating they could be a target.
Ridouan Taghi, once said to be Europe’s most powerful drug lord, denied any plot against the princess before he was sentenced to life in prison for five murders following the Marengo Trial in 2024.
Before his sentencing, Taghi is thought to have ordered three murders connected to the trial, including a lawyer, a TV journalist and the brother of a crown witness.
The gangland hits led to fears that Taghi was still running his criminal empire from prison and that the Netherlands had become a narco-state, with powerful gangs waging war.
