Last weekend we planned a visit to The Prinsenhof in the city Delft in The Netherlands.
The Prinsenhof is a very important place in Dutch history. The Prinsenhof, which is a museum at now, once was the residence for William of Orange, a prominent Dutch leader during the 16th century.
| William of Orange, also known as William the Silent, was a Dutch nobleman and statesman who played a key role in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule in the 16th century. He became the leader of the Dutch rebels and helped establish the Dutch Republic, which eventually became the Netherlands. William of Orange is considered a national hero in the Netherlands for his leadership and determination in fighting for Dutch independence. He was also a strong advocate for religious tolerance and played a significant role in the development of Dutch political and cultural identity. William of Orange was assassinated in 1584 by a supporter of the Spanish king, but his legacy and contributions to Dutch history continue to be celebrated to this day. |  |
|---|
William of Orange was a member of the House of Orange-Nassau, a prominent Dutch noble family that played a significant role in Dutch history. The family's influence continued through the centuries, and our present King Willem-Alexander is a direct descendant of William of Orange.
The gate that leads to the entry of the museum. "Vigilate Deoconfidentes" is a Latin phrase that means "Watch, ye who trust in God."
Museum Prinsenhof
The Prinsenhof was originally built in the late 15th century as a monastery for the Augustinian Order of friars, but later became a residence for several members of the Dutch royal family, including William of Orange in the 16th century.
Nowadays it's a museum about Dutch history, the royal family and also some famous Dutch painters.
The small entry on the side of the museum doesn't show the greatness of the collection inside.
The assassination
William of Orange was a strong and charismatic leader who was committed to the cause of Dutch independence. He was willing to take risks and make personal sacrifices to achieve this goal, and he inspired many others to join him.
William of Orange was also a proponent of religious tolerance and freedom, which was an important value for many people in the Netherlands. He believed that people should be able to practice their faith without fear of persecution, and this made him popular with many Dutch citizens.
William of Orange was seen as a symbol of hope and resistance against the Spanish, who were seen as oppressive and cruel by many Dutch people.
But William of Orange was also hated by many people. He was seen as a traitor by the Spanish, who saw his actions as a threat to their authority and power. He was even assassinated in 1584 by Balthasar Gerards; a supporter of the Spanish king.
In the hallway down the stairs there are still two bullet holes that remind of the assassination of William of Orange. It didn't end very well for his killer Balthasar Gerards too. He was sentenced to death and even for those times treated in a very cruel way. His heart was ripped out and his head cut off and placed on a stick outside the Prinsenhof.
It feels a bit strange to be in the place where such both historic and cruel events took place.
They have also displayed the type of gun the murder was committed.
Dutch Painters
Apart from William of Orange there were also a lot of paintings of famous Dutch painters like Michiel van Mierevelt, Jan Schoonhoven en Willem van der Meer. There are really a lot of wonderful paintings. Here is a small impression of the collection.
The anatomic lesson by Willem van der Meer
Delft
After visiting the museum we made a short walk through the city of Delft.
Delft is a charming city which is known for its beautiful canals and historic architecture.
Here are some shots I took during this walk.
I hope you have a nice impression of the Prinsenhof museum and the city of Delft. If you are every in the neighbourhood you should definitely visit it.
FriendlyMoose
Photographing is my passion. Although I like photography in general, nature photography is one of my favourite subjects. I often go out with my camera for a hike to capture the beauty of nature.
I would love to read what you think of my photos in the comments.
Discord: friendlymoose#5717
Do you like photography?
Every week I create a post with an overview of all the #photocontests on Hive.