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Dutch King Willem-Alexander’s visit to an orange-adorned street in The Hague during the European Championship drew criticism for mingling a bit too closely with football fans.
The head of the Maison d’Orange took to the streets on Thursday as the Netherlands faced Austria at Euro 2020.
The king was seen shaking hands with at least one person and breaking the country’s 1.5-meter social distancing rule in a video posted to social media and photos from the visit.
Acting Health Care and Sports Minister Tamara van Ark said that “we did not introduce a 1.5 meter social distancing for nothing”.
She adds that “you can see that sometimes it goes wrong. I think with enthusiasm.”
In a social media post, the Dutch royal family shared photos of the king’s visit to Marktweg in The Hague.
They noted that the precinct had received the Netherlands’ most beautiful orange street award, a competition designed to increase a sense of community during the European Football Championships.
After the mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen, gave the king a tour, he was introduced to brothers Danny and Raymond Zwennes, who took charge of decorating the Marktweg.
King Willem-Alexander (left) and his wife Queen Maxima (center) take their seats ahead of the Euro 2020 Soccer Championship Group C match between Netherlands and Ukraine at Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam , Netherlands, Sunday June 13, 2021 (PA)
King Willem-Alexander then visited the garden of a house on the Marktweg, where residents can watch matches during the Euro.
This is not the first time that the Dutch monarch has come under fire during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He apologized last year for taking his family on vacation to Greece. The family rushed home after a public outcry.
The holiday did not violate the coronavirus restrictions, but it came just days after the Dutch government introduced what it called a “partial lockdown” in a bid to curb the spike in infections.
Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander go out with their daughters for the biggest day of the year
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