Interments of the Oranges
Since William of Orange, the founding father of the Van Oranje-Nassau family, almost all deceased members of the Dutch royal family have been interred in the royal tombs of the Nieuwe Kerk.
Minute to minute
From the death of one of the royal family members, a detailed script is prepared for the funeral. This describes exactly what is expected of all involved from minute to minute.
Bourdon
The royal burials are accompanied by elaborate ceremonial ceremonies. A long funeral procession passes through Delft under the watchful eye of soldiers in ceremonial uniform. Thousands of interested people line the route. The sonorous ringing of the heavy Bourdon of the Oude Kerk is heard right up to the entrance to the Nieuwe Kerk.
Last farewell
The so-called iron list includes some 1,100 standard invitees representing the Dutch government and various organisations during the funeral. To this is added all the relatives and other people who had a direct relationship with the deceased. Despite all the interest, the interment itself, after the funeral service, takes place in private. Then the closest relatives descend into the basement with the coffin. Shielded by a curtain, they are given the opportunity for a final farewell here.
Discover more about the House of Orange
Royal house
Delft en het Nederlandse Koninklijk Huis zijn onlosmakelijk met elkaar verbonden. Sinds Willem van Oranje worden bijna alle leden daarvan bijgezet in de koninklijke grafkelders in de Nieuwe Kerk. In 2002 en 2004 nog, vonden drie leden van de Koninklijke Familie hier hun laatste rustplaats.
William of Orange
William of Orange; the 'Father of the Fatherland'. That his name was associated with Delft and the Nieuwe Kerk is purely coincidental. After his sudden death in the Prinsenhof in Delft, his family tomb in Breda was inaccessible....
Tomb of William of Orange
The mausoleum of William of Orange is perhaps the Nieuwe Kerk's biggest crowd puller. The artwork contains a lot of fascinating symbolism and shows great respect for the 'Father of the Fatherland'.
Interments of the Oranges
Since William of Orange, the founding father of the Van Oranje-Nassau family, almost all deceased members of the Dutch royal family have been interred in the royal tombs of the Nieuwe Kerk.
Royal tombs
Since William of Orange, almost all members of the Dutch royal family have been buried in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft. The tombs are not open to the public. What exactly they look like is still, therefore, generally unknown.
Recent burials
As recently as 2002 and 2004, successively Prince Claus, Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard found their final resting place in Delft's Nieuwe Kerk.