HIV association invites Dutch King for talks after controversial HIV remark

The Hiv Vereniging (HIV Association) has requested a meeting with King Willem-Alexander following remarks he made during a state visit to Kenya, in which he stated that HIV is no longer a taboo in the Netherlands because no one dies from the disease there anymore.

The organization, which advocates for people living with HIV, strongly refuted the king’s statement, calling it a widespread misconception. “In the words of Queen Máxima: a little stupid,” said Pieter Brokx, the organization’s director, on Saturday. “There are still many people who experience this stigma daily. And each year, about 25 people in the Netherlands still die from HIV and AIDS. This often happens because they are overlooked by the healthcare system and do not receive timely treatment.”

Brokx emphasized that persistent stereotypes contribute to misdiagnoses and missed cases. “There remains a deeply rooted idea that HIV only occurs among gay men and people from Africa. If a 60-year-old heterosexual woman presents with vague symptoms, HIV is not considered. And that is directly related to the stigma,” he said.

He also noted that people who are hospitalized with AIDS—a severe stage of HIV in which the immune system is nearly destroyed—still have many treatment options available.

The Hiv Vereniging is considering submitting a letter inviting the king to a discussion, with community members also participating. “We would like to educate the king and, through him, the rest of the Netherlands. What he said reflects how people still perceive HIV,” Brokx stated.