King Willem-Alexander is again applying for a subsidy for the maintenance of Kroondomein Het Loo for next year. He said this in the press interview at the end of the state visit to Norway. It is unclear whether this means that the nature reserve will again be closed to the public for part of the year.
The area on the Veluwe is closed to the public every year throughout the autumn, officially because of the protection of the “personal life” of the king. It is suspected that this has to do with hunting. According to the Government Information Service, the king hunts one half-day every year.
Willem-Alexander has been receiving a subsidy for the management of the nature park for years, but Minister Schouten made in september Know that the rules change. If the king wants to maintain the current annual closing, he must waive the subsidy in question.
jigsaw puzzle
In the press interview in Trondheim, the king said when asked that he would indeed apply for a subsidy, but he did not comment on the consequences. He emphasized that there are four categories of subsidies, only one of which is subject to opening.
“It’s quite a jigsaw puzzle,” said Willem-Alexander. “We are still looking at how this can best be solved.” He emphasized that this is a rest and nature area and not a recreation area. “That means people are welcome there, but not primarily.”
worry about corona
Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima also discussed the corona situation in the Netherlands. The king said they are very concerned about the rising numbers and they sympathize with the employees in care, who “deserve the greatest appreciation”.
“We had hoped that we would have a winter without corona,” said Máxima. “It really sucks.” According to her, people should “build together on an exit from corona. We need each other.”
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