Pro-republic group can't place giant dinosaur on King's Day route in Dokkum, court rules

The anti-monarchy group Republiek cannot put a 10-meter-tall inflatable dinosaur king on the Royals’ King’s Day route in Dokkum, the court ruled. Floris Müller, chairman of the activist group, is disappointed and looking for a way to still hold his massive protest against the monarchy, RTL Nieuws reports.

King Willem-Alexander and his family are celebrating his 59th birthday in Dokkum today. Republiek wanted to protest against the monarchy by placing the dinosaur along the route. According to Müller, Wim the crowned dinosaur perfectly embodies the monarchy. He is outdated, easily gets in the way, and is full of air.

The municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân, which covers Dokkum, rejected Republiek’s protest application, saying that the 10-meter-tall, 4-meter-wide, and 2.5-meter-deep dinosaur poses a risk to traffic safety and blocks escape routes.

Republiek took the matter to court, but the judge ruled in the municipality’s favor.

Müller is deeply disappointed. “I consider it an erosion of the right to demonstrate.” He is determined to still get Wim on the road. “We are trying to find the loopholes within the rules.”