The Mauritshuis in Willemstad kicked off its 400th birthday on Sunday with the cutting of a cake. The museum in the fortified town on the Hollands Diep is much more than an old building. It is an ode to the versatile Prince Maurits who has meant a lot to West Brabant. “And we like to put that historical heritage in the spotlight”, says alderman – and history teacher – Danny Dingemans proudly.
“Prince Maurits was a genius general who tried to liberate the Dutch from the Spaniards and has achieved quite a bit in West Brabant,” says Dingemans.
Perhaps the most famous achievement of Prince Maurits in this part of our province is his variant of the Horse of Troy. At the beginning of March 1590, he had 75 soldiers hide in a ship full of peat in Leur, after which they were smuggled into Breda, occupied by the Spaniards. After a short battle, the occupier was driven out from within.
Maurits had a historical connection with Breda, because his family lived there from 1404 to 1567. Until his father – Willem van Oranje – had to flee the city for the Spaniards.
Once he returned to the birthplace of his ancestors in 1590, Prince Maurits had the Mastbos further expanded south of the city. For the production of long trees that could be used for ships of the East Indiamen and he used the forest as his own hunting grounds. He also became the owner of Bouvigne Castle, on the edge of his Mastbos.
“It was quite a good one, that Maurits”
The prince also spent a lot of time in Willemstad and had the dilapidated fortress – led by master fort builder Menno van Coehoorn – expanded and strengthened. Dingemans: “He lived here in the council house, had his Mauritshuis built here and ensured the arrival of our domed church. This is the first Protestant church built especially for this purpose.”
Every year, the picturesque fortified town receives thousands of tourists who come to see these historic buildings. And the town benefits from that. “It was quite a good one, that Maurits,” laughs the alderman.
Writer and historian Thera Coppens gave a lecture on Prince Maurits on Sunday. She was surprised by how well the Mauritshuis, completed in 1623, now portrays the prince’s life as a museum. “It is amazing what has been realized here. I am amazed how everything has been restored here, with respect for the past. No ordinary fairgrounds, but a really good way to stimulate people to learn more about Prince with film and portraits Maurice.”
“Prince Maurits was worth more than just his military achievements.”
She does think that in the historiography too much attention is paid to the military role of the prince alone: ”Yes, of course he was a great soldier, fantastic. But scientifically and culturally he also meant a lot. He was friends with Simon Stevin who made great discoveries in physics and mathematics.”
“For example, he stimulated the development of the sand yacht. He wanted to show that it could drive faster than a horse could trot. No one believed that, but he proved it. Hugo the Great even wrote a poem about it. So Prince Maurits was more worth more than just his military achievements,” says Coppens.
The story about Prince Maurits can be experienced in the Mauritshuis in Willemstad. The birthday of this historic building will be celebrated extensively in the coming months various activities. From exhibitions to a pop concert.
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