How did the Dutch royal family originate?

In 1403, the Bredase Johanna van Polanen married the German Count Engelbrecht of Nassau. They moved into Breda Castle and laid the foundation for the House of (Orange) Nassau.

Why is orange our national color?

In 1530, René Van Nassau inherited the principality of Orange in Southern France. As a result, he became the Prince of Orange. He passed this title on to his nephew Willem van Nassau, who later became Willem of Orange, Father of the Fatherland. The family name changed to Van Oranje Nassau due to this inheritance.

Can you visit the castle of Breda?

Kasteel Breda is part of the Royal Military Academy. Therefore, the grounds are only accessible on Saturdays during guided tours led by a guide from Gilde de Baronie . You can not enter the castle without a guide. Tip : You have to book these tours sometime in advance.

Breda and the Nassaus. How was that again?

History
Nassau

Breda has a historical connection with our Royal House. In fact: the origin of the Dutch royal family is in Breda. We will give you a brief overview of Breda’s royal history.

It all began in 1403: Johanna of Polanen marries Engelbrecht of Nassau

Once upon a time… there was a very wealthy girl from Breda: Johanna van Polanen, heiress of Jan van Polanen III, Lord of Breda. No matter how young she was, the rich Johanna was already a sought-after marriage candidate. The fortunate groom was Engelbrecht of Nassau Dillenburg. They married when Johanna was 11 years old. Johanna received a noble title while the Nassau family improved its financial situation significantly. Today, we would call it a win-win situation.

Blyde Income

A new Lord and Lady of Breda officially took their place in the city at that time: the Blyde Incomste. So did Engelbrecht and Johanna.
The Nassau Baron Monument in Valkenberg Park still commemorates this. It was unveiled in 1904 by Queen Wilhelmina in honour of the 500th anniversary of the House of Nassau in the Netherlands.

Nassau's Baron monument with flowers in Valkenberg park

Happy Income of Queen Máxima

Incidentally, this medieval custom has not completely disappeared. As the future queen, Máxima embarked on an introductory tour around the Netherlands in 2001. Not entirely coincidentally, she started her ‘Blyde Incomste’ in… Breda.

Maxima with Willem Alexander, commissioner of the queen and mayor of Breda in Valkenberg.

But back to Engelbrecht and Johanna. They moved into the Castle of Breda, which at the time was still a medieval fortress, a heritage of the Polanen family.

They had six children. Incidentally, only after Johanna’s 18th birthday, as stipulated in the marriage contract. The eldest, Jan IV of Nassau, succeeded his father.

The Nassaus worked in the service of the Dukes of Burgundy. That proved to be quite profitable for them, and the term ‘Burgundian lifestyle’ did not come out of nowhere. The feasts and receptions at the Castle of Breda were famous well beyond the borders of the country!

People in historical clothing at a buffet

Hofstad

The House of Nassau brought prosperity to Breda. They acted as a magnet for craftsmen and artists. In the vicinity of such a wealthy family, you could certainly earn a good living, and there was room for innovation and creativity.
Breda gained the appearance of a court city, with large, noble houses for the court and important guests. You can still see these court houses in the historic city centre, including on Catharinastaat and St. Janstraat (Huize Ocrum). The three buildings on Nieuwstraat, where Hotel Nassau Breda is located, were originally court houses as well.

Impressive careers

Meanwhile the power of the Nassauses grew within Europe. Engelbrecht II (1451), the son of Jan IV, rose to become Grand Master of the Emperor Maximilian and general stadtholder of the Habsburg Netherlands.

Besides being a collector of beautiful handwritten and decorated books, Engelbrecht II was most likely the commissioner of the famous painting The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch. It moved from the Nassau Palace in Brussels to Spain, where it is still to be admired in the Prado in Madrid.

Because Engelbrecht II had no legitimate children, he appointed his German nephew Hendrik III of Nassau (1483) as his heir.
Not a bad choice for Breda, as he contributed a lot to the city.

Painting with all kinds of wondrous figures.

Hendrik III

To mention a few achievements: Hendrik had the Mastbos planted, built new fortifications, and provided Breda with innovative building regulations after the great city fire of 1534.
But most notably: he brought Renaissance art to the Northern Netherlands. Through his stay in Spain (Hendrik was the chief chamberlain at the court of Emperor Charles V), he came into contact with it. Together with his third wife, the wealthy Spanish Marquise Mencía de Mendoza, he transformed the Castle of Breda into a Renaissance palace with castle gardens.

To expand the castle, the Beguinage, which at that time was located on the Castle Square, had to be relocated to its current position on Catharinastraat. In return, Hendrik promised that the court would always remain under the protection of the House of Nassau.

Hendrik also introduced Renaissance art into the Grote Kerk Breda. For example, he commissioned the creation of the Prince's Chapel and the tomb monument for Engelbrecht II, which are among the masterpieces of the Grote Kerk.

Marble gravestone with a group of people

The first Prince of Orange

Hendrik had with his second wife Claudia of Chalon a son, René of Nassau, better known as René of Chalon. From an uncle on his mother's side, René inherited the principality of Orange in the South of France, which made him the first Nassau to hold a princely title. The family name changed to Van Oranje Nassau.

René was killed in action at the age of 25. His body was buried in the Grote Kerk, and his heart in Bar-le-Duc. René’s 11-year-old nephew Willem of Nassau Dillenburg was his heir... indeed... Willem of Orange, Father of the Nation.

William of Orange

Willem was originally Lutheran, but from the age of eleven he was raised Catholic at the court of Charles V.
At 18, he married Anna of Egmond and moved to live at the Castle of Breda as Lord of Breda. He served at the court of Charles V and later his son Philip II.

During the Eighty Years' War, Willem led the fight against the Spaniards. This caused a rift between Willem and Philip and even resulted in Willem's murder in 1584 in Delft.
Although he had been away from Breda for several years, he still wished to be buried in the Grote Kerk, next to his first wife Anna and their young daughter Maria. Because Breda was in Spanish hands, Willem was interred in Delft, as were his successors after him.

Van Breda to The Hague

Although two sons of William of Orange, Maurits and Frederik Hendrik, still played an important role during the Eighty Years' War, the power centre increasingly shifted from Breda to The Hague. Breda's role as a court city was over.
The special bond between Breda and the Orange-Nassaus has always remained.

Royal Roots brings the history of Nassau into the present

There is much more to tell about Breda's royal history. Stories that inspire to connect with the present and the future. Curious? Then take a look at www.royalroots.nl