Enkhuizen, 2013. When King Willem-Alexander comes into view of Café ‘t Ankertje during his introductory visit to the West Frisian city, he rubs his hands. “We have had good times here in the past,” he calls out to Karin Mazereeuw, who is waiting for him on the sidewalk. He continues: “How good to see you again!”
The warm greeting says a lot about the bond between the catering facility and King Willem-Alexander. He came there regularly about 35 years ago, when sailing yacht De Groene Draeck regularly moored in Enkhuizen. “Not only he, but also the other princes often came here,” Karin remembers.
No mobile and social media
At the time, she worked in the same café, which then belonged to her father. An era without mobile phones, without social media. “He could be himself here. No one was surprised when he was there. Everyone just continued with what he was doing. Then he would sit at the table with my father, whom he called ‘grandpa’, and we would have a nice beer. ”
There is still a wonderful anecdote about the bar that relates to that period. “I always say: ‘Willem-Alexander was more likely to get on his knees for me than for Máxima’.” During a rock & roll session at the bar, Willem-Alexander fell to his royal knees. “There he was, on his knees. In front of me. Who goes through that?!”, says Karin, laughing.
