For those who haven't seen the news today, there has been a terrible attack to our royal dutch family.
Today on the 30 april we in holland, all celebrate queensday. But what was supposed to be a happy and cheerful day ended in horrible nightmare.
While our royal family was approaching in an open bus, a madman drove a car with high speed through a crowd of waiting people in the direction of the bus which he missed and hit a nearby monument.
Allthough no-one of the family was hurt, five people were killed and thirteen others were severly wounded.
All festivities and parties in our country were cancelled because of this terrible accident, which struck the heart of our nation.
"lucky" enough it wasn't a terrorist attack, but the man, who drove the car and was also severly injured, told the police he did it on purpose, but the reason why he did it wasn't clear.
I just saw some uncensored videos of the accident on the internet and I'm completly shocked how one disturbed individual can destroy peoples live and the happiness of a whole country just for his own sake.
There will be a memorial the coming days, but Queensday will never be the same.
My condoleances go to the people who lost their relatives and my prayers to the people who are in hospital.

Bopperthijs.

My sympathies to the injured and those that lost someone.

I saw that on the news this morning. Sorry to hear about such a terrible act on a day of celebration. My condolences as well to those affected by this.

My condolences to those familys who lost loved ones and my prayers for the injured  this is a very bad thing to have happened

this is bad news.  the last time they tried this with the royals or their cousins was the attack on lord mountbatten.  they need to clamp down on whatever element set this guy up to do it.

Quote - I saw that on the news this morning. Sorry to hear about such a terrible act on a day of celebration. My condolences as well to those affected by this.

I'm so sorry! :(  I saw this on the news today and I was horrified. I can't imagine how those who were witness to it at the time it happened felt.
There are some very sick, sick people in this world!   Did the driver die?  I hope not because that would be too easy.  I'd like to know why he did what he did.

The driver died last night in the hospital. From what I heard on the news it was an unmarried, 38 year old man who had lost his job some months ago, and couldn't pay the rent anymore.
I'm afraid that we will never know why he did it. I can imagine that he got frustated and saw no way out, but that's no excuse for such a horrible action.
Our royal family is unique in the world for keeping a very informal relationship with the dutch people, and is very beloved.
Every year on queensday they all visit another town or village in the country, to celebrate with the people there. This had been a tradition for almost 30 years, since our queen followed her mother.
Often has been spoken about the safety risk of these visits, but untill yesterday nothing bad has happend. (the queen got kissed once by a drunk man, but that was a spontaneous moment, and she didn't seem  to mind it at all)
I hope this accident won't be the end of a cheerful tradition otherwise we are giving to much credit to the man who caused it.

best regards,

Bopper.

I don't think it will be the end of this wonderful tradition just as many of the Queen of England's traditions carry on. However, there will be much more security and better planned routes and that once wonderful feeling of openness between the Royal Dutch family and the people will be gone. I dare say that the Royal family from this time on will not be riding in an open bus and will have much more security along side.

It's a shame that when people become so down and irrational about events in their own lives that they carry out something like this. In their own minds they feel someone will get payback or by doing something like this they feel it will correct all that has gone wrong in their lives.

My heart goes out to the Dutch people, especially the families of those killed and injured. I would think the Royal family would be shaken, but not let one crazy person damage their connection with their people. Queen Beatrix seems to be cut from the same cloth as Queen Elizabeth, so I would expect her to react with dignity and bravery, putting her people before her own safety.  

There are millions of people around the world who are thinking of all of  you, and sending you wishes of healing.  Personally, I would have liked to see the driver recover, just so he could stand in front of the families who lost someone, and explain what gave him the right to take a life. 

So sorry to read this.  I hate to see the hate and desperation shown by these acts of violence. The cynical part of me thinks some people thrive on the hate... Condolences to the families of those who were lost.

Zeer droevig om dit te horen. Mijn gedachten gaan aan beïnvloed die allemaal uit.

Very sad to hear this. My thoughts go out to all those affected.