Portrait of the Prince of Orange

Willem II of the Netherlands (1792-1849). Looks much better than our present crown prince. He was injured in the Battle of Waterloo, but he survived to become King William II of the Netherlands. In 1848 he agreed to a liberal parliamentary constitution for the Netherlands. He is quoted to have said: "I changed from being a conservative to liberal in one night". His change of opinion was inspired by the revolutions and uproars elsewhere in Europe. In the Netherlands the change went without bloodshed (which is to be prefered). He is the last member of the house of Orange who has done a bit of real fighting. At Waterloo he was 22 years old. He died in 1849 from heart failure.

I drove to Waterloo (Belgium) today. About 200 km from Leiden.