The traditional celebration of the Dutch national day, Koninginnedag or Queen's Day, is under threat from an unlikely source: the Dutch police. The police unions have hinted at boycotting the visit of the Queen and her extended family to the Frisian towns of Makkum and Franeker on April 30th.
Without policing the visit would have to be scrapped, unless other security forces were brought in. The proposed industrial action is taken to protest the Dutch government's latest pay offer to the police. Football (soccer) games have already had to be cancelled because policemen went on strike on matchdays.
,,The latest pay offer of the Home Secretary has our members hopping mad", an Police Union official in Friesland province said. ,,There is still time, but if there is no agreement we could all stay away on Queen's Day, or we bring all the police from the rest of the country in", Mr. Vogel hinted.
The majors of the two towns concerned, were not impressed by the threats. The Palace would not comment, probably expecting the problem to be solved by April. © RB
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