Wilhelmina had never been the epitome of good health but from 1820, she began having more and more health troubles. The court physician often prescribed her rest and sea air. William even had a pavilion built for her at the beach in Scheveningen, which he gave to her for her birthday in 1827. That same year, she had also broken a rib after an unfortunate fall in the Palace in Laeken. Although she was not a politically active Queen, she was now the matriarch of the family and a much-loved one at that.
Some considered the Dutch court the most “boring court of Europe” due to Wilhelmina’s domesticity and William’s frugality.1 Every day at four o’clock, King Wiliam left his cabinet to take tea with Wilhelmina and her ladies.
On 21 May 1825, Wilhelmina’s second son, Prince Frederick, married his first cousin, Princess Louise of Prussia, who was 11 years younger. Princess Marianne was briefly engaged to Gustav, former Crown Prince of Sweden, before marrying Louise’s brother, Prince Albert, in 1830. Several grandchildren would follow over the years.
Despite her health troubles, Wilhelmina continued to travel between the southern and northern residences in The Hague and Brussels. When Belgium became a separate country in 1830, she no longer travelled to Brussels. She also continued to travel to Berlin almost every year. She would stay at the Niederländischen Palast, and after Princess Marianne married Prince Albert, she would stay with them as well.
Wilhelmina was a great lover of the arts and was known to have painted as well. She received lessons from Friedrich Bury, who was the court painter in Berlin. Unfortunately, very little of Wilhelmina’s art has survived. She was the patron of Bonaventura Genelli, who was able to study in Italy with an allowance from her.2
Wilhelmina’s last visit to Marianne was in the summer of 1836. During a visit to the Loo Palace in the summer of 1837, Wilhelmina’s health suddenly took a turn for the worse. She felt a little better by the end of September, much to the relief of her eldest son, who wrote, “I was very pleased with the good reports about Mama. I sincerely hope that her well-being continues and that the journey from the Loo to The Hague will not tire her too much. I will consider myself lucky if I see you both arrive at the winter residence in good health. I sent raspberries to Mama yesterday. I hope they arrived at the Loo in good order and that she likes them.”3
Wilhelmina was able to return to Noordeinde Palace, where she died on 12 October 1837 at the age of 62. For two weeks, Wilhelmina lay in state as her son watched over her. One observer wrote, “With sorrow, we heard the news of the Queen’s death. Her condition had deteriorated greatly in these last days, but death was still very unexpected for those around her and, it seems, for herself. What a striking contrast; all the grandeur of life in a palace or a narrow coffin. The Prince of Orange was fierce as ever; the King was very sad but calm. For 45 years, the Queen was with him in joys and sorrows, and, from what I hear from those who lived with them, happy. The King himself, on her return from the Loo, took the Queen out of the carriage, was completely occupied with her condition and was anxious to alleviate it, ate alone with her in the afternoon, and wanted no other dishes, no other wine than that which she might have to use. All members of the House were gathered at the Palace according to the wishes of the Sick; she died quietly. […] She may have had more for herself than we know. The interaction with her Court was very good; much cheerfulness, gentleness and love for her relations.”4
On 26 October, Wilhelmina was buried in the New Church in Delft. Her coffin was draped in a mourning cloth and carried a crown on a cushion. Her husband, two sons and son-in-law, Albert, were in the procession. As was usual, the women of the family did not attend the funeral.
Wilhelmina had spent much of her life in the shadow of her mother-in-law. William ordered the destruction of her correspondence following her death, which leaves a large hole when trying to piece together her life.
Two years after Wilhelmina’s death, William proposed marriage to one of Wilhelmina’s former ladies-in-waiting, Henriette d’Oultremont. This caused such consternation that William decided to abdicate in favour of their son. The abdication took place on 7 October 1840, and William and Henriette married on 17 February 1841. Henriette was styled as Countess of Nassau.
William and Henriette decided to stay in Berlin, although he always intended to return to the Netherlands. His son had something else in mind. The marriage could not be valid in the Netherlands until it was registered, and William II wrote to his father that he could and would not receive Henriette due to the invalidity of the marriage. In addition, the public response to Henriette’s presence in the Netherlands could actually prove to be dangerous for her well-being. William was furious, and he angrily wrote to his son that he would come to The Hague personally and marry Henriette again. His son finally caved and allowed for the marriage to be registered.
Almost immediately, William and Henriette set off for the Netherlands, and they arrived at the Loo Palace on 10 October 1841. The citizens of Apeldoorn were surprisingly welcoming to their former King. William II was not at all happy with his father’s return to the Netherlands, and he refused to receive his father and Henriette in The Hague. William angrily departed for Berlin on 25 November.
The following years were hard for William. His health had begun to decline, but Henriette dedicated herself to taking care of him, to the praise of Prince Frederick. His declining health led William to try to reconcile with his son. On 12 July 1842, William and Henriette departed for The Hague after staying at the Loo Palace for a few weeks. It was a great visit, and William returned to Berlin in excellent spirits.
William collapsed on 12 December 1843 due to a stroke. He never awoke and died that same day at the age of 71.
- Koning Willem I by Jeroen Koch p.489
- Vrouwenlexicon
- Willem II by Jeroen van Zanten p.340
- Koning Willem I by Jeroen Koch p.492
Be the first to comment