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A6 WORLD NEWS
Friday 28 april 2023
The Netherlands celebrates birthday of King Willem-Alexander

By PETER DEJONG Despite the small protests,
Associated Press cheers greeted the king, his
AMSTERDAM (AP) — The wife, Queen Maxima, and
Netherlands celebrated two of their three daugh-
the 56th birthday of King ters as the royal family
Willem-Alexander on Thurs- toured the port city, includ-
day with street markets, ing crossing the River Maas
parties and orange-glazed in a fleet of water taxi mo-
pastries, even as an annual torboats.
poll showed support for the Among many selfies, hand-
monarchy continuing to shakes and brief meet-
decline. ings along the route, the
The king and much of his king spoke to activists who
family spent part of the asked him when he would
day in Rotterdam, where apologize for the royal
thousands of orange-clad house’s historic role in slav-
people lined the streets to ery. Willem-Alexander said
greet the royals during a he was awaiting the results
walkabout. Willem-Alexan- of an independent inquiry
der, who took the throne into the royal house’s role.
in 2013, is a descendant of Dutch Prime Minister Mark
the House of Orange dy- Rutte last year issued a for-
nasty. mal apology for the coun-
In Amsterdam, the munici- A billboard showing Dutch Crown Princess Amalia reading “Leave Me Be” adorns the facade of a try’s involvement in the
pality called on revelers to bar as orange-clad people celebrate King’s Day in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, April 27, slave trade.
2023.
stay away from one popu- Associated Press Security was extra tight for
lar neighborhood near the Thursday’s tour. The royal
city’s historic canal network as “a symbol of inequality.” the House of Orange has dividing, where there are family revealed last year
because it was overcrowd- An annual poll conducted dropped to 55%, while really big problems. I can that the 19-year-old heir to
ed by the late afternoon. for national broadcaster backing for the Nether- really play a very good the throne, Princess Ama-
Parts of the canal network NOS by Ipsos ahead of the lands becoming a repub- connecting role.” lia, was forced to leave her
also were crammed with King’s Day national holiday lic rose in the same period Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed student housing in Amster-
boats. showed support for the from 15% to 24%. Support Aboutaleb said he under- dam due to threats.
Supporters of a national monarch continuing to fall for the monarchy stood at stood complaints about the Away from the official cel-
republican organization after it plummeted during 74% before the coronavirus cost of the walkabout but ebrations, children and
staged a small demonstra- the COVID-19 pandemic, pandemic. planned to host another their parents set up “free
tion, holding up signs read- when the king angered Undeterred, the king said major celebration if, as ex- markets” throughout the
ing “Willem The Last.” The many by taking a vacation he would continue to work pected, the city’s biggest country to sell their old toys,
organization complained in Greece during a nation- to unify the country. soccer club Feyenoord books and clothes. Amster-
about the cost of king’s wide lockdown. He told NOS he sees his role wins the national league dam’s central Vondel Park
walkabout and said in a Ten years after Willem- as “uniting people and in title. “I don’t hear anybody was packed with families
statement on its website Alexander ascended to this society, which unfor- complaining about that,” buying, selling and playing
that it sees the monarchy the throne, support for tunately is polarizing and the mayor told NOS. games.q

Foundation prints 3D prosthetics, gives

them free in Uruguay

I had to do it with both tevideo, and her income an population registers
hands because my fist comes from informal work, some level of disability, the
wouldn’t close,” she said, such as selling firewood or majority mild, according to
while her mother Ana Van pineapples. The family has a 2011 census by the Na-
López watched excitedly. a monthly income of about tional Statistics Institute.
Rodríguez received the 8,000 pesos, or US$200. Rodríguez’s prosthetic
protheses from the Uru- “I am very grateful, I hands move with threads
guayan Manos de Héroes thought my daughter was that are taut from the mo-
foundation, which designs the only one with this prob- tion of her wrists. They are
and prints hands and arms lem. She had never come violet with pink, colors she
with 3D technology for chil- across someone like her says she chose because
Mia Rodriguez holds a pen with one of her prosthetic hands
made by the Manos de Héroes foundation in Salinas, Uruguay, dren and adults across the in the hospital or on the they go well together, and
Friday, April 14, 2023. South American country. street. It’s very difficult for are decorated with uni-
Associated Press Since 2020, the foundation us,” said Van López, who corn decals. Other children
has provided more than is trying to obtain a state prefer the colors of their fa-
By NAUSÍCAA PALOMEQUE The Uruguayan girl, whose 100 free prostheses, most of disability benefit for the girl vorite soccer club or super-
Associated Press fingers never fully devel- them for families in vulner- equivalent to a little more hero.
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) oped, put on the prosthetic able situations. than 15,000 pesos a month, The prostheses can be me-
— The first thing 11-year-old hands and demonstrated Van López, 28, lives with her or $380. chanical or electronic. They
Mia Rodríguez says she did the grasping movement partner and their four chil- In addition, they receive a are placed on the hands,
with her new prosthetic she can now make. dren in an abandoned fac- similar amount of state sup- forearm, elbow or shoulder,
hands was draw a picture “Now I can hold the pen- tory in Salinas, about 40 kilo- port, she said. according to the needs of
of a kitten. cil with one hand. Before, meters (25 miles) from Mon- Almost 16% of the Uruguay- each person. q