Dutch society has never been based on one single culture, princess Máxima says in this week’s issue of women’s magazine Magriet, reports ANP news service.

‘Not so long ago, there was a system of verzuiling [compartmentalisation along political and sociological lines]’, the princess points out. ‘People had strong ties within their own group but there were big differences between the compartments.’
The princess, who has Argentinian and Dutch nationality, was both praised and criticised last week when she said in a speech that she had failed to find a single ‘Dutch identity’.