Amalia of the Netherlands graduated despite death threats and forced exile

Princess Amalia of the Netherlands experienced a story that seemed straight out of a political series: threats from a narco network, secret exile in Spain, and a graduation under strict security measures. At 21 years old, the heir to the Dutch throne obtained her degree in Politics, Psychology, Law, and Economics (PPLE) at the University of Amsterdam.

The ceremony took place this Monday, July 14, at the Royal Concertgebouw, one of the country's most iconic auditoriums. She was accompanied by her parents, King Willem-Alexander and Máxima; her sisters Alexia and Ariane,  and Queen Beatrix. However, what few knew was the background of sacrifices, isolation, and fear that marked her academic life.

A year in exile due to threats from the Mocro Maffia

In 2022, Dutch intelligence services detected a kidnapping plot against Amalia. The person responsible was Karim Bouyakhrichan, head of the Mocro Maffia, a narco organization with networks in Europe, South America, and the Middle East. The criminal had been detained in Spain for money laundering, but was provisionally released by that country's justice system and remains at large. His escape caused a diplomatic scandal and put the monarchy on alert.

Faced with imminent risk, the young princess left Amsterdam and secretly settled in Madrid, thanks to an exchange agreement with IE University. For more than a year, she lived near El Retiro park, under maximum protection and accompanied by an intimate circle.  Her whereabouts were confidential even to her friends.

During that period, the Spanish royal family —Felipe VI and Letizia— provided her with support. In gratitude, Amalia ordered a flower to be planted in Plaza de Oriente. The gesture was led by the Dutch ambassador and Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, as a symbol of the bond between both royal houses.

A return with resilience and new challenges

After her stay in Spain, Amalia returned to the Netherlands and resumed in-person classes.A horseback riding accident forced her to undergo arm surgery and postpone a subject, but she still decided to participate in the ceremony with her classmates and present her final thesis.

The academic work she presented was titled "Beyond Transparency: Building Bridges Between the Artificial Intelligence Act and the Charter of Fundamental Rights with Deepfaked Bodies." In it, she analyzed the tension between technological advances and the protection of human rights in Europe.

For the occasion, she wore an aubergine off-shoulder dress, matching shoes, and a gold choker. With her hair down and a big smile, she proudly posed with her diploma, although she still has to pass one more subject to officially complete her degree.

The princess has already announced her next steps: she will begin her postgraduate studies in Dutch Law, necessary to practice as a lawyer, and will participate in the Defensity College program, an initiative of the Ministry of Defense to train university students with academic experience and military training.

Beyond the degree, Amalia's true achievement was overcoming fear and exile with fortitude, without abandoning her vocation or her commitment. In a time when royalty is often associated with privilege and protocol, the Princess of Orange showed a different side: that of real resilience.