Princely couple drop Mozambican holiday villa

Both have pointed out the spinoffs from the project were to include classrooms and clinics for the locals.

The Dutch crown prince and his wife announced on Friday they would sell a luxury holiday villa they were erecting in Mozambique following much criticism of the project back home.

- We have decided to sell the house on its completion - said a letter signed by Prince Willem-Alexander, addressed to Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and made public by the government.

- The ongoing publicity and discussion over our participation in the Machangulo project has affected us deeply. -

Willem-Alexander and his Argentinian-born wife Maxima joined a project with other investors in February 2007 to build a five-star holiday village on the Mozambican peninsula of Machangulo.

The couple have been widely criticised in the Netherlands, particularly by opposition political parties which have demanded they withdraw from the project, for deciding to build a luxurious getaway in such a poor country.

There were also concerns about the costs to the Dutch taxpayer, allegations of corruption levelled against the contractors, and fears for the security of the royal family.

The princely letter stated that all they were after - was a holiday house in a beautiful, peaceful place where privacy is guaranteed, while making a contribution to the development of the local population. -

Balkenende has previously defended the pair's decision as "private", while the Mozambican government has welcomed the investment.

Both have pointed out the spinoffs from the project were to include classrooms and clinics for the locals.