1936 – ✝ 2002
Prince Claus
Klaus-Georg Wilhelm Otto Friedrich Gerd von Amsberg - or Prince Claus for short - married Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1966, Queen of the Netherlands from 1980 - 2013. Not everyone was happy with this prince of German origin. Later, however, his popularity only increased.
POW
Prince Claus grew up in Africa where his father worked. Just before World War II, he returned to Germany, where he was called up for military service. In May 1945, however, the Americans took him prisoner of war.
Lower House
Prince Claus first met Dutch crown princess Beatrix at a New Year's Eve party. A few years later, the press noticed their interest in each other, and in 1965 the couple felt compelled to announce their engagement at an accelerated pace. However, this was only possible after a journalist, at the government's request, proved that Prince Claus's behaviour in World War II was beyond reproach.
Accentless
On 10 December, Von Amsberg was granted Dutch citizenship. His name was 'Dutchified' to: 'Claus George Willem Otto Frederik Geert van Amsberg'. By learning Dutch without accent, and being candid in a very short time, Prince Claus managed to win over the hearts of most Dutch people.
Pneumonia
Prince Claus emerged as a man of integrity and enterprise, with a heart for development work. In the last years of his life, however, he struggled with his health. He eventually succumbed to the effects of Parkinson's disease and pneumonia. Prince Claus was interred in the royal crypt in the Nieuwe Kerk amid great interest.
Discover more about Notable Characters
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, the family tomb in Breda was inaccessible.
King William I
It was around the year 1800 in the Low Countries. The era of stadholders was over, and Napoleon Bonaparte was advancing from the south. Then William I Frederick became the first king of the Netherlands and secured the dynasty of the Oranges.
Willem George Frederik
William George Frederick of Orange-Nassau was the youngest son of the last stadholder William V and the brother of the first King of the Netherlands; William I Frederick. He was an inspiring army commander who, despite a nasty shoulder wound, fought courageously against the French.
Koningin Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina was queen for almost fifty-eight years; the longest reign since the creation of the Dutch constitutional monarchy in 1815. During that time, she led the country through two world wars as well as reconstruction.
Prince Claus
Klaus-Georg Wilhelm Otto Friedrich Gerd von Amsberg - or Prince Claus for short - married Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1966, Queen of the Netherlands from 1980 - 2013. Not everyone was happy with this prince of German origin. Later, however, his popularity only increased.
1909 – ✝ 2004
Queen Juliana was one of three members of the Royal Family who died in fairly quick succession and were buried in the Nieuwe Kerk. She was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Prince Claus. Husband Prince Bernhard followed Juliana the same year.
1911 – ✝ 2004
Prince Bernhard was the prince consort of Queen Juliana and the father of Princess Beatrix. He was born in the German grand duchy of Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach.
1583 – ✝ 1645
Hugo de Groot is considered one of the greatest jurists ever. With famous works such as De jure belli ac pacis and Mare Liberum, he laid the foundations for today's Western legal system. However, his influence was not appreciated by all.