Announcement: William!

Stedelijk Museum Breda and Museum Prinsenhof Delft present: William! The exhibition about the cost of freedom can be visited from October 10, 2025, to April 6, 2026. This is the second Nassau exhibition at Stedelijk Museum Breda and a unique event: for the first time, the stories of William of Orange in Delft and Breda will be presented together.

Escape, Battle, and Murder

The story of the permanent exhibition The Nassaus of Breda at Stedelijk Museum Breda ends with William of Orange’s departure in 1567. William had to flee for his life because he no longer wanted to obey the King of Spain. But his story doesn't end there. In Delft, his new base, he became the leader of the fight for freedom of conscience, which would later be called the Eighty Years' War. On July 10, 1584, his life came to a tragic end when he was assassinated in the Prinsenhof.

Museum Prinsenhof Delft in Breda

At the beginning of 2025, Museum Prinsenhof Delft will close its doors for a major renovation. During this renovation, part of the Delft collection will be on display at Stedelijk Museum Breda for six months. For the first time, the stories of William of Orange in Delft and Breda will be presented together, and the collections will be united under one roof. Visitors will be treated to a unique diptych, combining a permanent and a temporary exhibition.

The Complete Story: From Cradle to Grave

Both Nassau cities have influenced his life and Dutch history. Breda marks the starting point of what could have been a brilliant career for the Prince of Orange. His palace is there, his roots are there, and his predecessors were buried there. In Delft, you’ll find the end of his life, his tomb monument, and the beginning of his fame as the Father of the Nation.