A soldier keeps watch at the gate of the stately cobblestone -cobbled driveway, which is equipped with powerful trees on both sides. In the distance, a large group of people with decorated cars appears. The watchpost is dumbfounded. I am here to guard the most important person in the Netherlands in a secret place, this happens to me. “In the name of Oranje, open that gate!”, The crowd sings loudly. He is not cable for so much musical violence and enthusiasm and the doors of the Anneville estate in Ulvenhout are waving open.
It is 26 May 1945 as the large crowd from the immediate area, led by the inhabitants of the nearby hamlet of Geersbroek (also known as Gatbroek), insiners. Three weeks before that, the Germans surrendered and the Netherlands was liberated. Although Breda and the surrounding area have been rid of the occupiers since the end of October 1944, this is the moment for a big party.
But why at this place? This is due to the presence of someone who is considered the symbol of resistance to the Germans. Under loud protest, she left for London when our ‘eastern neighbors’ entered our country. To get the residents of courage from there for years through radio messages.
Prince Bernhard
Her husband, Prince Bernhard, had already preceded her. At the end of November 1944, if a large part of the south of the Netherlands is liberated, Breda became his headquarters. He moves into Anneville that is located in the adjacent Ulvenhout.
This estate was created in the mid -nineteenth century and has an area of more than 30 hectares. It will be rented out in the 1920s and a hotel, restaurant and tea house will be installed. The Germans pick it up after the raid and make a bread bakery around the coach house where the staff also stay. Officers live in the country house itself.
Bernhard leaves on April 13, 1945. At the end of that month, a plane lands on Gilze-Rijen. With Queen Wilhelmina and her daughter and crown princess Juliana. The Royal Duo is not alone. They have a few important bodyguards with them, including Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema. That is the man who later becomes world famous after the publication of the book Soldaat van Oranje in 1971 and the film of the same name from 1977. It contains his experiences as a resistance fighter who flees to London, returns to the Netherlands to continue the fight and fights the Germans as a pilot. He gets the highest military award for this: the Willems Order.
The company settled in the estate at the beginning of May 1945. And only a few days later the redeeming word comes: the Germans have surrendered. The battle is over. It is a big party in Anneville, but nobody should know that. Because that Wilhelmina is staying here is a strictly kept secret.
However, that secret leaks very quickly. Already after a few days people come to offer gifts to the queen and her daughter. Two girls hand over a bunch of flowers.
The fence is really off the Dam when many hundreds of people will storm the estate on 26 May. There is spontaneously a large parade and the visitors shake the queen and the princess. And provide them with all kinds of presents. It is a large, spontaneous folk festival that lasts for hours.
About a month later, Wilhelmina and Juliana decide to leave, but not without saying goodbye in a grand way. In the garden there is music, lots of drinks and ample opportunity to dance. But then dark clouds above the estate get together and a downpour follows. The partygoers run into the garage and the large room of the coach house. According to Juliana, the perfect place to enjoy partying and the guests don’t let themselves say that twice.
A day later it is really over and the royal stay at the Anneville estate comes to an end.