1880 – ✝ 1962
Queen 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.
Too young
Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria was born at Paleis Noordeinde in The Hague. The only surviving child of King Willem III, she was the heir to the throne. However, she was only ten years old when the king died. Until she was eighteen, her mother Emma assumed the duties as regent.
Party atmosphere
Thanks to her mother's intervention, she met one Heinrich zu Mecklenburg-Schwerin. This Hendrik eventually became her husband. For a long time, they had no children, leading to fears that a German relative would become the heir to the throne... On 30 April 1909, however, Princess Juliana was born and the nation celebrated.
Terraced house
During World War II - she had now been queen for 50 years - the royal family had to flee from the Germans. From England, Wilhelmina spoke courage to the Dutch people, via Radio Oranje. Once back in the Netherlands, she lived in a terraced house in The Hague for a while out of solidarity with the population.
White burial
In 1948, Wilhelmina abdicated the throne. Daughter Juliana became queen; she herself retired to Paleis Het Loo. She died aged 82, and at her own request was given an all-white funeral in the Nieuwe Kerk. Several books were published about her over the years. Wilhelmina herself wrote the autobiography 'Lonely but Not Alone' in 1959.
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.