The Dutch and Their ‘Oranje Feeling’

The Peace of Westphalia of 1648 marked the end not only of the Thirty Years’ War, but also of the Eighty Years’ War between the Netherlands and Spain. The latter began 450 years ago when William of Nassau (William of Orange) and others rose up in rebellion against the Spanish occupation. Throughout 2018 Holland’s National Military Museum (NMM) will commemorate this war, the historical figure of William of Nassau, and the foundation of the Netherlands. Art historian Hedwig Saam, until recently director of the NMM, recounts how ever-present Willem von Oranje is today in our neighbouring country, and simultaneously how nearly forgotten, both there and in the rest of Europe.