The Prinsenhof and Nieuwe Kerk in Delft




margaret parma
Photo by Moniek Bloks

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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.

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William the Silent’s Mausoleum

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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.

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A mockup of what it looks like.

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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)

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The Church has some amazing windows.

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Anne of Hanover

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Mary Stuart, Princess of Orange

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Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Parma

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The very impressive City Hall of Delft.

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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.

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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.

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Juliana of Stolberg, mother of William the Silent

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Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Parma

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Ivory carving of William the Silent’s murder

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Bullet holes from the murder

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Wilhemina of the Netherlands

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Amalia of Solms-Braunfels

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Amalia of Solms-Braunfels

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The city of Delt

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Gardens of the Prinsenhof

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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!






About Moniek Bloks 2676 Articles
My name is Moniek and I am from the Netherlands. I began this website in 2013 because I wanted to share these women's amazing stories.

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