The mausoleum

Mausoleum of William of Orange, Nieuwe Kerk, Delft

The mausoleum in the Nieuwe Kerk was commissioned by the States-General to commemorate the “pater patriae” Prince William of Orange, and built between 1614 and 1622. William was the founder of the House of Orange-Nassau and the first leader of the Dutch Revolt against the King of Spain. The Prince was assassinated in Delft on 10 July 1584. He was buried there because the family vault of the House of Orange was in Breda, which was then under Spanish occupation. The Nieuwe Kerk in Delft has been the final resting place for members of the House of Orange-Nassau ever since. The mausoleum was designed by Hendrick de Keyser, an internationally celebrated sculptor and architect in his day, who also built Amsterdam town hall, known today as the Royal Palace, which stands on Dam Square. No trouble or expense was spared to give William of Orange a monumental memorial. The mausoleum is made of different-coloured marble: black, Italian white, and gold-veined black. A thorough restoration proved necessary in the latter half of the 1990s, as the marble threatened to succumb to deterioration caused by salt crystals. The monument was dismantled, cleaned and reassembled in a process that took four years. Every section was rinsed using a special procedure and repaired where necessary. The bronze parts too were treated. Her Majesty the Queen attended the presentation of the restored monument in April 2001.