Three ministers signed the joint decision to allow the ‘installation of a security system’ and the ‘measures to secure sea access’ on the 14th of March following a request from the Dutch embassy.
The then Deputy Environment Minister Stavros Kalafatis, Public Protection Minister Nikos Dendias and Shipping Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis agreed to waive all relevant prohibitions citing the ‘interest of the public’ for the works proposed by the Dutch in the area of Doroufi of the Ermioni municipality which is located near the island of Spetses.
The plans greenlighted by the ministers include the construction of a perimeter fence and harbour on public land below the villa which belongs to the royal family and which they use for their summer holidays. It should be noted that the villa in question is neither an embassy nor a consulate which would be considered foreign territory.
According to the Greek constitution the coastline is public property which the public have a guaranteed right to access. Yet thanks to the special dispensation afforded to the royals, construction of the marina is already underway and locals are no longer able to access a portion of the beach which is now monitored by a guard and security cameras. They fear that soon they will be barred from the entire beach.
Residents of the area have reacted angrily to the government’s move to give special treatment to the royals and a local citizens' initiative is exploring the option of legal action. It has been argued that the perimeter and harbor are necessary to provide the royal family a secure getaway in the event of a terrorist attack. However this explanation has been widely rubbished by residents with one member of the citizens’ initiative opposing the works quoted by the DPA news agency as saying, “When the king comes with his private jet, they would build an airport.”
The villa
The issue has taken on embarrassing proportions for the royal family with questions asked by MPs in both the Dutch and Greek parliaments about the move, and the controversy reported on extensively by the press in Holland, Greece and Germany. Foreign visitors to Ermioni reportedly now ask where the infamous beach is.
It is also not the first time that the Dutch King has run into trouble over his holiday home. It has been reported that the King purchased the property in the Peloponnese in 2012 after selling a luxury complex in Mozambique amid allegations in the local press about damage to the environment.