There is a form of segregation in the Netherlands as well. Due to immense amounts of immigration, especially in the big cities the population has changed drastically. When you take the metro from the suburbs in Amsterdam South-East to the city centre, fat chance that the average caucasian Dutchman from the countryside will look around with bewilderment to see that all other passengers in the metro have all ethnic backgrounds from the world and that he is far in the minority.
The 'hidden' segregation happens unintendedly, and it is official policy to fight and prevent it. "Newcomers" are usually less wealthy and live in cheaper neighbourhoods. Result is that also the local schools become crowded by children with a background from Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Armenia, Egypt, whatever. They drag down the average score of the whole school, simply because they are poor in Dutch, are practically illiterate or did not enjoy any primary schooling at all. The side-effect: "white parents" take their children away because, understandably, they want the best education. Some schools in some neighbourhoods in big cities face a "white exodus": the wealthier parents prefer to bring their kids in a daily ride to a "white school" furtherer away than to the own local school in the own neighbourhood.
The three princesses live in Wassenaar. The Royal Domain 'De Horsten' is already almost 175 years in the possession of the royal family. Now Wassenaar is one of the most 'posh' residential areas in the Netherlands. It is known for broad, lush green streets with big residential or stately homes and villas, a typical sleepy posh area, where girls go horseriding, wearing Burberry shawls and boys are on field hockey and the daddies all ride Land Rover, you know what I mean.
So with portraying of the three princesses as three "white girls" it is not directly meaning their skintone but more typecasting them as "those typical girls from that sort of people". (And yes.... the triple A's do horseriding, and yes.... the triple A's do play field hockey....). There is an enormous difference with the countryside in Friesland, or Limbourg and cities as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht. It sometimes look and feel as worlds apart, in the very same country. On King's Day the royal family went to De Rijp, a typical Ye Olde Dutch village with happy white Dutch girls and boys singing for their King. Afterwards they went to Amstelveen, a big city close to Schiphol International Airport and it has the largest number of Ex-Pats living in the city. All people from abroad to work for multinationals and sending their children to international schools (bilingual edication). The festive atmosphere, the fun was the same, but there was an enormous difference between the village which was visited in the morning and then the city around Noon.
Ah, the family that plays together, stays together. And judging by the photos there were some very tense and very exciting moments. What a terrific boost for the team to have the entire royal family there to cheer them on.
