Permanent presentation
The museum explains his role in the Revolt from various points of view. Paintings, pamphlets, caricatures and prints show why the Netherlands Revolt is well known as the first propaganda war. Historical objects as well as the very old building “Het Prinsenhof” bring this history to life. Visitors also meet the other major players in the Eighty Years War such as Philip II and the Duke of Alva.
Background information about William of Orange:
1. 1584: William of Orange murdered in Delft
2. Leiden and Alkmaar liberated
3. Father of the fatherland
1584: William of Orange murdered in Delft
Around four centuries ago William of Orange walked about in the buildings of the Museum Het Prinsenhof. The prince, who stood by the Republic during its formation, led the Revolt against Philip II, sovereign ruler of the Netherlands and king of Spain. William’s ideals were freedom of religion and tolerance.
While Philip II declared a reward for the head of Orange, in effect a decree for his murder, there had initially been a strong bond between the two nobles. Charles V is a father figure for his own son Philip as well as for William. Following a large inheritance from his cousin René de Chalon, William gains a very prominent position within the Netherlands nobility. The eldest son of Willem de Rijke, of the house of Nassau may henceforth have the title of Prince of Orange. He also becomes very wealthy due to his marriage to Anna van Buren. In 1559 Philip appoints Orange as Stadholder of Holland and West-Friesland, Zeeland and Utrecht. During his reign Philip seeks to reform the government at the cost of the nobility’s power in the Netherlands. The nobles’ response is to revolt under William’s leadership as well as to protest against the inquisition. While sympathetic towards the protestant movement William also has catholic friends. Religious freedom and tolerance are very important ideals for him.
Following the Iconoclastic Fury, during which radical Protestants cleanse the churches of holy images, Philip sends the Duke of Alva to the Netherlands to restore his authority and punish the rebels. This causes a dramatic historical turning point as the conflict gets out of control leading to war. Orange flees to his family castle at Dillenburg in Germany, where he recruits an army to win back his lost rights and possessions. Initially he is unlucky in battle. But when an army of “sea-beggars” succeed in taking over a large proportion of the province of Holland, Orange goes to the well defendable city of Delft to take charge of the Revolt. He takes up residency in the St. Agatha Convent, which from then is known as “Het Prinsenhof” (the Prince’s Court).
Leiden and Alkmaar liberated
William’s troops successfully defend Leiden and Alkmaar. On his advice for example the polders surrounding Leiden are flooded to allow the starved population to be rescued from the enemy’s siege. Confidence grows in William’s camp and Holland is never again under Spanish control. In 1580 Philip puts a price on the head of his ever more popular opponent. From that moment on various religious fanatics and fortune hunters try to murder Orange. During a stay in Antwerp he scarcely survives an attempt on his life and returns to Delft. There Balthasar Gerards announces himself as a French protestant with news of the Duke of Anjou’s death. With the remuneration he gets from the receiver-general he buys two pistols. One of these he uses to murder William of Orange upon the stairs. He fires three bullets into his stomach. Two bullets go straight through William’s body leaving holes in the wall behind.
Father of the fatherland
Already within his lifetime the bravery of Orange earned him the title of honour ”Father of the fatherland”. His leadership at the cradle of the Dutch Republic justifiably makes Orange one of the most important figures of Dutch history ever. In this new presentation of William of Orange visitors literally walk in his footsteps. After all William walked through these court chambers and led the Revolt from here. By the end of the presentation this history will be truly tangible. On 10 July 1584 Balthasar Gerards murdered William of Orange. Two bullet holes still remain in the wall as silent witnesses.
Towards the end we see how William’s two sons, Maurits and Frederik Hendrik continue the war and bring about the eventual victory. Maurits implements reforms in the army, which greatly improve its fighting capability. Frederik Hendrik gains fame as a coercer of cities. Under Frederik Hendrik and Amalia van Solms the stadholder’s Court gains a royal allure. Frederik Hendrik dies in 1647. His young son William II is in power when the Peace of Munster is declared in 1648. The Dutch Republic was now a fact.
More on William of Orange:
De Nationale Canon
www.willemvanoranje.com
