Song for new Dutch king withdrawn amid ridicule

A SONG specially written to be sung by the nation to the Netherlands’ new king on the day of his investiture has been “withdrawn” by its producer after it triggered a storm of online criticism and ridicule.

Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander will take the throne at the end of the month. Picture: Getty

The ‘Koningslied’, or King’s Song, that was supposed to unite a nation behind its new monarch instead has had the effect of dividing it into two camps: those who hated the song and those who loved it.

An online petition against the song, which was written using suggestions from the public and features a blend of Dutch rock ballad and rap styles, had been signed by more than 38,000 people by yesterday. But the song clearly also has its fans as it reached No. 1 on the Dutch iTunes chart.

Most complaints focused on the quality of the lyrics, saying that the idea of writing a song based on suggestions from the public was a recipe for disaster.

The song, which lasts just over five minutes, is performed by 51 Dutch artists, many of them stars in the Netherlands.

They belt out much-mocked lyrics such as: “I build a dyke with my bare hands and keep the water away” and “three fingers in the air, come on, come on. That’s the W (sign) for Willem, the W which represents being wakeful and eating stamppot [a traditional Dutch dish made from vegetables and a sausage].”

Summing up much of the tune’s criticism in the Netherlands, with its strong egalitarian roots, one anonymous petitioner commented: “The song makes it sound like Willem-Alexander is some kind of god and we’re his underlings to whom he gives his life … away with it!”

Dutch-British producer John Ewbank said on his Facebook page that he was scrapping the song after being subjected to a torrent of online abuse since its official launch on Friday.

“Dear compatriots, after having to block yet another insult on my Twitter account, I am now totally done,” Mr Ewbank wrote on his Facebook page on Saturday.

“My apologies to those who found it an appropriate song ... but I hereby withdraw the Koningslied (King’s Song).”

The national committee co-ordinating celebrations for the 30 April coronation said in a statement it “regrets the situation” but understands Mr Ewbank’s decision.

The committee said it still wants the nation to sing to its new monarch on the evening of his investiture and is looking for alternatives to the King’s Song.

“The intention remains to serenade the king on 30 April. Together with the Dutch public broadcaster the committee will seek a solution,” national news agency ANP quoted the committee as saying.

It convened yesterday to discuss alternatives just over a week before the investiture, an event not witnessed in the Netherlands since Queen Beatrix ascended the throne in 1980.

In his message, Mr Ewbank himself suggested alternatives including a catchy tune called You’re the King, written by two students from the central university city of Utrecht.

Posted two days ago, the cheeky song has already been watched more than 263,000 times on YouTube.

In a reference to Willem-Alexander’s hugely popular Argentine wife Maxima, who will soon be crowned queen, the students sing: “What a matchless wife you have, the ideal companion. If I was king, I would have known it as well.”