Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands

On 6 June 2019 it will be 75 years ago that the Normandy landings, also known
as D-Day took place. This marked the beginning of the end of World War II.

World War II was a dramatic period in the life of many people also in that of
many royal families.

In May 1940, Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands had to make the major
decision in her whole kinship. To stay or to leave The Netherlands during the
war.

Queen Wilhelmina was born on 31 August 1890 at Noordeinde Palace in
The Hague, The Netherlands. Her parents were King William III of
The Netherlands and Princess Emma of Waldeck-Piedmont.

In 1895 Wilhelmina visited Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. The
Queen wrote in her diary:

The young Queen still her hair hanging loose. She is slender and graceful,
and makes an impression as a very intelligent and very cute girl. She
speaks good English and knows how to behave with charming manners. 

Emma and the later Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands
Taken in Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn


Wilhelmina could have been a royal from the very past times but actually
she really was up-to-date and she even had 'radical'
innovation ideas for her country.

After the crash at Wall Street, The Netherlands was hit by an economic
crisis and afterwards a political crisis. Queen Wilhelmina annoyed herself
that her government didn't solve the problems.

During World War I, The Netherlands could keep her neutrality instead of
Belgium. They came undamaged out of the War.

On the eve of May 1940 The Netherlands was a rich country. It was after
the United Kingdom and France the third colonial power of the World. Its
Merchant Marine was even the largest of Europe.

On 13 May 1940, Queen Wilhelmina left The Netherlands for the
United Kingdom. On 15 May 1940 the Dutch Queen and her ministers
were reunited at the terrace of Buckingham Palace in London.  There
Wilhelmina lived for a while.

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
picture taken in the Palace in Amsterdam


During the 2nd.  World War, Queen Wilhelmina played an important role.
Churchill called her the only man of the Dutch government. She interferred
in politics, wanted to release her innovation ideas and gave speeches for the
Dutch people and secret army in her homeland.

In 1942, Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands visited the United States of
America. On 5 August 1952 she spoke at the Congress.

After World War II the Dutch Queen was disappointed about the fact that
nothing was realized from her innovation plans.

On 12 May 1948 she announced her abdication. On 4 September 1948,
she renounced her duties as Queen of The Netherlands.Queen Wilhelmina
died on 28 November 1962 at Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn.


Books


Of course there are many books about Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.

* Eenzaam maar niet alleen (Dutch) written by the Queen herself in 1959

* De Jonge Koningin - Cees Fasseur

* Wilhelmina, Krijgshaftig in een vormeloze jas - Cees Fasseur

Wilhelmina - Krijgshaftig in een vormeloze jas
Cees Fasseur

* Wilhelmina, een dame van ijzer - Cees Fasseur - picture: Ebook

Cees Fasseur - Een Dame van ijzer
Queen Wilhelmina en de Nationale gedachte



* Dear old bones - letters from Wilhelmina to her English governess.

* Het recht om te waarschuwen -  Jord Schaap about the radio speeches
of Wilhelmina

Jord Schaap Het Recht om te waarschuwen
cover e-book via Kobo

On Youtube there is a wonderful movie about one of the speeches of
Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands more on this Link


Recently a new book in Dutch was released. This book is based on the diaries of
minister von Kleffens. He stated that Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands
wanted an exchange between nazi's and King Leopold III of Belgium. She was
worried about her Belgian colleague who was taken captive by Nazi Germany and
brought to Austria. This is a complete other view of Queen Wilhelmina of
The Netherlands who always had been Anti Nazi Germany.

The book is called: Majesteit, u kent het werkelijke leven niet.


=> If you know other books about Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands,
please let me know!

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