Michiel 2005's photos with the keyword: willem II

Our hero of Waterloo

King William II exhibition. William II collected a lot of art during his reign, but after his death the collection was sold to pay off debts. During this exhibition many artworks from the collection were brought together again. Because William II was married to Anna Pavlona, the daughter of the Czar of Russia, the exhibition was seen in Russia too.

Lying wounded at the battle of Waterloo.

King Willem III of the Netherlands was also known as King Gorilla, although saying it at the time would have ended you up in jail. Zürich (CH) police has a file on him that he used to walk out onto his balcony of his Zürich home only dressed in his morning robe and that he exposed himself to people passing. King Willem II was our hero at Waterloo. He was one of the table guests of the Duke of Wellington at the yearly veteran's dinner in Apsley House. See also this picture of the young Willem II, then only the Prince of Orange. www.flickr.com/photos/govert1970/2206963319/

His son William III hated his father so much that the erection of this statue took years and when the statue was finally there, the unveiling took months. William II fought at Waterloo, was blackmailed for homosexual encounters, agreed to a liberal constitution in 1848 depriving him of power and leaving all the problems to the politicians.

This weekend is monument weekend and many monuments are open to the public. The Rijnlandhuis dates from around 1600.

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.