Dutch King Mr. Willem-Alexander and Queen Ms. Máxima are facing criticism in the Netherlands for taking a lengthy, eight-week summer vacation at their private villa in Greece, a move that contrasts with other European royals who typically holiday in their own countries.
The Dutch magazine Story recently questioned why the royal couple does not vacation domestically, highlighting that the royal families of Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom all spend their summers at residences within their own nations.
The criticism echoes a previous controversy in 2020, when the couple was forced to cut short a trip to the same Greek villa and issue a public apology for traveling during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
A royal family expert, Justin Marsela, told the magazine that the couple “could learn a thing or two from their European royal peers.”
In response to the criticism, the Dutch palace has emphasized that King Mr. Willem-Alexander remains on call 24/7 and would return immediately in the event of a national crisis.