Princess Catharina-Amalia was forced to spend a year in Madrid after receiving threats while studying in the Netherlands.
To express her gratitude to the city for providing her with a temporary home, the heir to the Dutch throne has made a thoughtful donation of tulip bulbs to create a small tulip garden.
The Dutch Palace confirmed the gesture, stating: “The Princess of Orange thanks Madrid and its people for the warm welcome in their city, which she was able to call home for some time, with a small tulip garden on Plaza de Oriente.”
Tulips, the national flower of the Netherlands, are a significant part of Dutch agriculture.
The royal family often gives tulips as a token of appreciation, with one notable example being the donation of 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa, Canada, after the city sheltered members of the House of Orange-Bissau during World War II.
Catharina-Amalia’s stay in Spain was first reported in April, following news of the security threats against her in 2022.
During her first royal tour of the Dutch Caribbean in February of the previous year, she spoke about the challenges of the situation, saying, “I miss the normal life, the life of a student. Walking the streets, being able to go to a store.”
Dutch royal journalist Annemarie de Kunder shared with HELLO! that the threats took a significant emotional toll on Catharina-Amalia and her family, adding that she has professional support to help her through difficult moments.
Now back in the Netherlands, the 20-year-old princess frequently joins her parents at official events, including Prinsjesdag, the Dutch equivalent of the State Opening of Parliament in the UK. She recently joined her family at the Dutch parliament and waved to the crowds from the palace balcony.
