Oud-Amelisweerd in the Netherlands doesn’t really look like it has much of a royal connection. It was built in the 13th century, but it was destroyed by French troops in 1672. It wasn’t rebuilt until 1770. It passed through noble hands before being sold to King Louis Napoleon of Holland in 1808. He held the property for just one year before he sold it again. It now houses a museum, which currently has an exhibition dedicated to King Louis Napoleon in combination with paintings by Armando.
King Louis Napoleon was married to Hortense de Beauharnais, the daughter of Joséphine de Beauharnais (Empress of the French as the wife of Napoléon I) from her first marriage. Although Hortense did spend some time in the Netherlands as Queen of Holland (she was said to have been pleasantly surprised by her reception), I could not find any evidence that she ever visited this house.
Louis Napoleon did bring his mistress to his house as I learned during my spontaneous private tour through the house that she had her own room here.
Literal translation:
Mysterious being, whose charm and ingenuity
effortlessly seduce
without deception and without guile,
Hortense, to you I direct this verse
my wishes and sadness over your fate. (written by Louis Napoleon)
Design for a new order made by Hortense, but it was never implemented.
The house is pretty empty as it has no furnishing. I received an excellent reception upon my arrival, and the employee was very knowledgeable and excited to be showing me around. The museum is quite easy to reach by bus from Utrecht Central Sation. The Louis Napoleon exhibition will run until 5 March 2017.
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