Crown Princess Amalia of the Netherlands has unveiled a vibrant tulip garden in the heart of Madrid as a gesture of thanks to the Spanish capital, which became her refuge during a difficult

chapter in her life. According to RTL, the garden is located in Plaza de Oriente, near the Royal Palace, and commemorates the year Amalia spent in Madrid under protection following serious threats in her home country.

At a ceremony earlier this week, Amalia personally revealed a plaque dedicating the garden. “Madrid is my second home,” she said. “Especially during a particularly difficult time for me.” She went on to express heartfelt gratitude, saying, “In a very Dutch way, we want to thank everyone who gave me safety and well-being here in Madrid.”

The tulip garden includes seven different tulip varieties, both early and late blooming. It’s planted in a section of the square where the color orange—a national color of the Netherlands—stands out. Orange marigolds, planted by the city of Madrid, surround the tulips. A plaque reads simply: “Thank you for my time in Madrid. Enjoy the tulips.”

Speaking on his podcast Through the Eyes of the King, King Willem-Alexander shared his deep pride in his daughter’s resilience during her time away. “The uncertainty, the lack of freedom—that is not how you want to raise your children, and it’s not what you want to give your children,” he said, reflecting on the emotional toll the situation had on the royal family.

Queen Máxima also spoke candidly about the hardship of being apart from Amalia. “Every time she left, it was with a tear and a smile,” she recalled. “Amalia is a wise girl, a very smart one, so I could handle it very well.”

Amalia spent over a year living in Madrid after threats from organized crime groups in the Netherlands made it unsafe for her to remain in Amsterdam. Despite the move, she continued her studies remotely through the University of Amsterdam, often working from Spanish academic institutions, according to reports from De Telegraaf and other outlets.

Originally, Amalia had looked forward to beginning university life in Amsterdam, where she enrolled in the Politics, Psychology, Law, and Economics (PPLE) program. However, in September 2022, Dutch authorities revealed that both Amalia and Prime Minister Mark Rutte had been identified as potential kidnapping targets by criminal groups.

By October 2022, Queen Máxima confirmed that Amalia could no longer leave the royal residence in The Hague—even on her 19th birthday. In early 2023, she was spotted in Madrid with her mother, and soon after, reports confirmed she had moved there full time.

Amalia returned to the Netherlands in early 2024 and has since resumed in-person studies while living in student housing in Amsterdam. In August 2023, Dutch police arrested a 40-year-old man, Mohamad E., suspected of plotting to kidnap or murder the crown princess. He denied the charges, calling them “insane.”

The tulip garden now stands as a symbol of resilience, gratitude, and the unexpected bonds formed in a time of uncertainty—a colorful tribute from a princess to a city that gave her peace. Photo by Ian Jones, Wikimedia commons.