Het Verhaal van Nederland

Daan Schuurmans talks about the origins of the Oranje-Nassau dynasty. With the marriage of count Engelbrecht van Nassau to the Dutch Johanna van Polanen, the German Nassau family set foot on Dutch soil for the first time. More than a century later, descendant Willem received the title Prince of Orange thanks to an inheritance. This William of Oranje-Nassau wants to strengthen his position by marrying the Protestant Anna van Saksen. But that gets him into trouble with his ruler, the Spanish king Philip the Second.

After the murder of Willem van Oranje, the role of the Nassaus in the Netherlands seems to have ended. His legacy sows division within the family and a battle erupts over who can call himself the rightful successor of the Father of the Nation: eldest son Filips Willem or the younger Maurits?

In the 17th century, the Oranjes were at the height of their power and prestige. One woman plays an important role in this: Amalia van Solms. This lady of Oranje is committed to the survival of the dynasty and the image of the family.

In Friesland, the Nassau-Dietz family continued the Oranje-Nassau Line after the death of King-governor William III. From Leeuwarden they try to match the name and fame of their Oranje predecessors and obtain the governorship over the whole of the Netherlands.

Due to revolutions and wars at the beginning of the 19th century, the Oranjes fled and lost everything: the governorship, their possessions and even the Netherlands. But not their English and German family ties. The Oranjes seem to have been forgotten in the Netherlands for a long time when, thanks to their international contacts, they returned to the highest position ever in the Netherlands in 1813. With King William I on the throne.

The power of the Oranje kings slowly but surely crumbles in the nineteenth century. A new constitution gives parliament more power at the expense of the king. Much to the frustration of King Willem III, who is doing everything he can to turn the tide. Because what is a king without power?

The Oranje-Nassau family consists of only two members: Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Juliana. If Juliana does not provide offspring, the dynasty will cease to exist. The relief is great when a marriage partner is found in the person of Bernhard zur Lippe Biesterfeld. Can this German prince save Oranje-Nassau?

The Oranje-Nassau family has become an indispensable part of the Netherlands. For centuries they have played a significant role in our history, right at the center of power, in good times and in bad. Will the Oranjes continue to color our history in the future?