Henriëtte Amalia of Anhalt-Dessau moved with her six unmarried daughters – one daughter had married in 1708 – to Diez, where she had Schloss Oranienstein renovated. The Schloss had been built by her mother-in-law, Albertine Agnes of Nassau, on the ruins of Dierstein Abbey.
Albertine Agnes was born in The Hague on 9 April 1634 as the daughter of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange and Amalia of Solms-Braunfels. After waiting for something better to come along, Albertine Agnes married her second cousin, William Frederick, Prince of Nassau-Dietz, in May of 1652 in Cleves. They went on to have three children together, of whom two survived to adulthood.
When William Frederick died in 1664, Albertine Agnes acted as regent for their son, which lasted until 1677. She was mostly in control of his education and was very concerned because of his ill health. She ended up outliving her son for two months. Her most significant legacy is perhaps her numerous building projects and her art collection. She was also responsible for the building of the Oranjewoud Palace, where she died in 1696. She was buried in Leeuwarden.
When Henriëtte Amalia’s son died in 1711, leaving behind a pregnant Marie Louise, Henriëtte Amalia travelled to Leeuwarden hoping to be appointed regent. Her grandson was born 48 days after the death of her son. However, the government was instead handed to her daughter-in-law.
While at Schloss Oranienstein, Henriëtte Amalia lived beyond her means and accumulated a substantial debt. However, she was loved in the city because she stimulated the economy.
While the Oranjewoud Palace no longer exists as Albertine Agnes intended, Oranienstein has survived the times, albeit heavily altered by her daughter-in-law. The Schloss currently stands on the military grounds of the Bundeswehr and houses the Nassau-Oranien Museum. It can be visited on a tour year-round. As it is on military grounds, you are required to show ID. The woman who gave our German tour also spoke excellent Dutch and even English. The Schloss attracts many Dutch visitors due to its history. The tour only covers the (front) gardens, the lower floor, the chapel and the lookout. All the other parts of the Schloss are in use as offices. The museum is relatively small, but still worth a visit, and it’s clear that they’ve made an effort to make the most of it. Our tour guide was also quite knowledgeable.
Overall, I would highly recommend the Schloss if you are in the area. Do check the website for the tour times. The entrance fee is very reasonable at €4.
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