On 11 October, the exhibition ‘Willem – The Price of Freedom’ opens at the Stedelijk Museum Breda. For the first time, the stories of William of Orange in Delft and Breda will be presented together, in a unique collaboration with Museum Prinsenhof Delft. During the renovation of the Prinsenhof, a large part of the Delft collection will be brought to Breda in a completely new exhibition, on view for a one-time only period, until 6 April 2026.
10 July 1584: the sound of three explosions fills the Prinsenhof in Delft. On the stairs, Balthasar Gerards fires three bullets at William of Orange. The prince is killed instantly. It is a shocking moment in Dutch history; a well-known story that began in Breda. In the exhibition ‘Willem – The Price of Freedom’ the museum goes back in time, from William’s death in Delft to the beginning of the revolt against the ruler of the Netherlands, the Spanish King Philip II, in 1572. This compelling exhibition that unfolds in three powerful scenes: murder, conflict, and resistance.
William of Orange, often referred to as the Father of the Nation, paid the highest price for freedom – a treasure that remains relevant today. As a young prince, William lived in Breda Castle and enjoyed status and wealth. After the death of his cousin René of Chalon in 1544, from whom William inherited the Princedom of Orange, he led the Nassau family at Breda. In the struggle for religious freedom, he faced the Spanish King Philip II and was forced to flee Brabant. In Delft, he continued to lead the Revolt from the Prinsenhof (Prince’s Court). He risked everything for freedom and independence: his wealth, possessions and family. Ultimately, he paid with his life.
According to his will, William wanted to be buried in Breda, but due to the Spanish occupation of the city, his grave was moved to Delft. A cast of his sepulchre, a highlight of the exhibition, symbolically brings him back to Breda.
‘Willem – The Price of Freedom’ is much more than a historical exhibition. Together with Amnesty International, Stedelijk Museum Breda connects the past with the present. Around the world, human rights are under pressure, and people are still fighting for their freedom.