King/ Grand Duke Willem II (1792-1849), Queen Anna Paulowna (1795-1865) and family

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The Russian influence soon became visable with King Willem II. Unlike hios frugal father Willem II liked to show off his wealth. For his enthronement he ordered this new throne and he also ordered a new (fake) crown/religia.

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In 1824-1825 Princess Anna went back to visit her relatives in St. Petersburg. One of her ladies in waiting, Countess Cornelie van Wassenaer van Obdam kept a diary during this journey. The diary was recently published. More information in Dutch can be found here.

The book also appeared in english. At Amazon they still have it for example.

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King Wiollem II had an enormous collection of Art. Sadly after his death his widow had to sell most of it to her brother, Emperor Nicholas I of Russia, as the King made large debts. So most of the Dutch masters that are shown at the Hermitage in St. petersburg today came to Russia through this way.

Read more about the art collection of King Willem II here: Hoogsteder Journal 11 | The Fortunes of a Royal Painting

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Several things were named after King Willem II and his wife.

There is the Paulownia plant for example. But also the village and polder of Anna Paulowna in Noord Holland.

The footballclub in Tilburg received the name of the only Dutch King who ever lived and died there, so it is named Willem II.

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A sketch of Queen Anna visiting a orphenage.

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Below: Queen Anna and some of her Russian relatives in Zaandam, in the small house where Peter the Great learnt all about shipbuilding:

[Marengo]

I wonder if anybody knows which paintings of Rembrandt and other Dutch masters were owned by King Willem II and sold by Queen Anna to her brother Tsar Nicholas I? Are they all shown in the Hermitage?

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Marengo

I wonder if anybody knows which paintings of Rembrandt and other Dutch masters were owned by King Willem II and sold by Queen Anna to her brother Tsar Nicholas I? Are they all shown in the Hermitage?

Not exactly sold Marengo,as Willem II has enormous debts/in debted millions to his brother-in-law the Tsar,Anna Pavlovna could do little else then just hand them over to straighten out the debts,over twenty of the most precious paintings by the master went to the Hermitage this way.
The State Hermitage Museum: Collection Highlights

The Dutch Crown,ordered by King Willem II:
[DNF] Fotoarchief Denieuwsfoto

Courtesy PPE/Nieboer.

[Marengo]

So most Dutch masters of the Hermitage came from Anna's 'donation'? I was wondering if they also still had some Dutch masters left from what they confiscated from the Nazi's?
A pity they left the country, and all that is left of Willem II's spendthrift nature here is another crown with fake stones and a ghastly palace in Tilburg .

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Marengo

So most Dutch masters of the Hermitage came from Anna's 'donation'? I was wondering if they also still had some Dutch masters left from what they confiscated from the Nazi's?
A pity they left the country, and all that is left of Willem II's spendthrift nature here is another crown with fake stones and a ghastly palace in Tilburg .

Tilburg,Anna Pavlovna loathed the p(a)lace,she remained at Soestdijk,but was at the Kings side when he died,unexpectedly,in Tilburg.

And there's the Gothic Hall,now in use by the Council of State,across from Noordeinde Palace ofcourse,where most of the paintings now in the Hermitage where adorning the walls.Also the venue where their daughter Sofie married.
Neo Gotische Gallerij

Courtesy Chris Schram's wonderfull site.

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Apparently the King also created the neo-gothic gallery, next to the Gothic hall. As nobody dared to tell the King that architecture wasn't one of his talents, the structure was so bad that it broke down 20 years later.

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A closer view of Queen Anna and some of her pearls:

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For those who speak Dutch, a lot of information about King Willem II, his wife etc. can be found on this site.

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King Willem II, aka the hero of Waterloo, in a heroic portrait:

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I just read in 'Rites of Piece' by Adam Zamoyski that Tsar Alexander I had the plan to let his sister marry the Duke of Berry, and put them on the throne of France (The Tsar didn't hold Louis XVIII in high regard). when Napoleon was defeated and the powers were wondering who should be on the french throne.
Before this it was actually Napoleon who asked for Anna's hand but Alexander refused.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Marengo

So most Dutch masters of the Hermitage came from Anna's 'donation'? I was wondering if they also still had some Dutch masters left from what they confiscated from the Nazi's?
A pity they left the country, and all that is left of Willem II's spendthrift nature here is another crown with fake stones and a ghastly palace in Tilburg .

The Palace in Tilburg.Has been in use as town hall for decades.
dutch castles and palaces

please scroll down to "visit all dutch royal palaces",then,scroll down again a little....

Courtesy Caroline Raat.