Memorial Landing King Willem I

After Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813, the French began to withdraw from large parts of Europe, including the Netherlands. In this chaotic situation, several Dutch leaders, including Gijsbert Karel van Hogendorp, declared independence and sought a stable prince to lead the country.

They invited Prince Willem Frederik, son of the last stadholder Willem V, to return to the Netherlands. Willem had been in exile in England since 1795, when French troops had occupied the Netherlands and the Batavian Republic had been proclaimed.

On 30 November 1813, he set foot on land at Scheveningen, after a short crossing in a sloop from an English warship that was moored off the coast. He was festively received by the people who hoped for peace and recovery. This event is known as "the landing of the Prince".

A few days later, on 6 December 1813, William accepted sovereignty as Sovereign Prince of the United Netherlands. In 1815, he was officially crowned King William I, thus establishing the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The landing at Scheveningen is still commemorated as the beginning of the Dutch royal house in its modern form. At the site of the landing, there is now a monument commemorating this moment.

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Source

• Text: RJArmy
• Photos: RJArmy.nl
• William I of the Netherlands - Wikipedia