The city of Delft only became a royal burial place when its traditional site, Breda, was under occupation at the time of William the Silent’s death. He was buried here, in the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in a mausoleum. The Church is currently undergoing some construction.
William the Silent’s Mausoleum
The other royals are buried in the Royal Crypt, which goes all the way underneath the floor. The crypt is not open to the public and is only opened when someone is being buried there and by the Mayor of Delft, who holds the key, and then only in the company of employees of AIVD (Intelligence Agency) and Royal Marshals. The crypt is considered private property.
Burial of Queen (Princess) Juliana of the Netherlands in 2004.
A mockup of what it looks like.
A close-up of the stone on top of the entrance.
It also says:
RESURRECTIONEM
EXSPECTAT
GUILELMUS PRIMUS
PATER PATRIAE
Meaning,
‘Here waits, William I, Father of the Fatherlands, for resurrection’
People buried in the crypt:
In the old vault:
- William the Silent (1584)
- Louise de Coligny (1621)
- Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange (1625)
- Elisabeth, daughter of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (1630)
- Isabella Charlotte, daughter of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (1642)
- Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (1647)
- Countess Catharina Belgica of Nassau (1648)
- Amalia of Solms-Braunfels (1675)
- Three unidentified persons
In the new vault:
- William II, Prince of Orange (1651)
- Eldest stillborn daughter of William IV, Prince of Orange (1736)
- William IV, Prince of Orange (1751)
- Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange (1759)
- George Willem Belgicus, son of Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau (1762)
- A stillborn child of Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau (1767)
- Eldest stillborn son of William V, Prince of Orange (1769)
- Willem George Frederik, son of William V, Prince of Orange (1896)
- Princess Pauline of Orange-Nassau (1806)
- William V, Prince of Orange (1806)
- Frederika Louise Wilhelmina, daughter of William V, Prince of Orange (1819)
- Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia (1822)
- Prince Ernest Casimir of the Netherlands (1860)
- Willem Frederik Nicolaas Karel, son of Prince Frederick of the Netherlands (1834)
- Wilhelmine of Prussia (1837)
- William I of the Netherlands (1844)
- Willem Frederik Nicolaas Albert, son of Prince Frederick of the Netherlands (1846)
- Prince Alexander of the Netherlands (1848)
- William II of the Netherlands (1849)
- Prince Maurice of the Netherlands (1850)
- Anna Pavlovna of Russia (1865)
- Princess Louise of Prussia (1870)
- Amalia of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1872)
- Sophie of Württemberg (1877)
- Prince Henry of the Netherlands (1879)
- William, Prince of Orange (1879)
- Prince Frederick of the Netherlands (1881)
- Alexander, Prince of Orange (1884)
- William III of the Netherlands (1890)
- Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1934)
- Prince Henry of the Netherlands (1934)
- Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (1962)
- Prince Claus of the Netherlands (2002)
- Juliana of the Netherlands (2004)
- Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld (2004)
The Church has some amazing windows.
Anne of Hanover
Mary Stuart, Princess of Orange
Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Parma
The very impressive City Hall of Delft.
The inside of the Old Church. It holds no royal women, but it is the burial place of Johannes Vermeer, the painter. It was included in the Combi-Ticket for the Court of the Princes and the two churches. Conveniently, all are within walking distance.
Again, amazing windows.
Next up, the Prinsenhof (Court of the Princes). It was originally a convent, but part of it became the residence of William the Silent in 1572. He was murdered there in 1584.
Juliana of Stolberg, mother of William the Silent
Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Parma
Ivory carving of William the Silent’s murder
Bullet holes from the murder
Wilhemina of the Netherlands
Amalia of Solms-Braunfels
Amalia of Solms-Braunfels
The city of Delt
Gardens of the Prinsenhof
Statue of, you guessed it, William the Silent
Overall I enjoyed this day in Delft. The weather co-operated for the most part. I bought the Combi-Ticket at the Tourist Information, which is located to the left of the New Church. The New Church had a lot of construction going on, inside as well, so that was a shame for my pictures. Both of the churches are beautiful and worth a visit. It’s always a special to be in the presence of so many inspirational women!
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