WILLIAM OF Orange
William of Orange: a private walking tour of Delft
Discover Delft’s connection with William of Orange on a private walking tour with a local guide. Explore the streets, canals and historic buildings linked to his life and the Dutch Revolt. Hear why Delft became so important to the man remembered as the Father of the Dutch Nation, and how his story became part of the city’s history.
On this William of Orange tour, get to know the man regarded as the Father of the Dutch Nation. Who was William of Orange? What drove him to oppose the rule of the Spanish king Philip II? And why did Delft become so important in his life? Your guide will take you back to the turbulent sixteenth century, explaining the Dutch Revolt, political conflict and the difficult choices William faced.
On 10 July 1584, William of Orange was shot dead by Balthasar Gerards in the Prinsenhof in Delft. After the attack, Gerards tried to escape but was captured. During the tour, you will pass the prison where he was held and hear about the severe torture he endured during interrogation. He was sentenced to death and brutally executed on Delft's Markt on 14 July 1584. Your guide will place these events in their sixteenth-century context, when corporal punishment and public executions were part of the justice system.
William of Orange
The musical
The story of the Father of the Dutch Nation, William of Orange. The Musical explores events that shaped the Netherlands, including the Iconoclastic Fury and the Eighty Years' War. Above all, this is the story of a hesitant nobleman who becomes the committed leader of the revolt against Spanish rule. His struggle for freedom, justice and religious tolerance lies at the foundation of the Netherlands. It is our history.
William of Orange – The Musical is performed at the purpose-built Prinsentheater in Delft.
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