Koning Willem II (King William II), Hague

Koning Willem II (King William II), Hague

The King William II statue in The Hague is an important historical monument that was revealed to the public in 1924. William II held the titles of King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Duke of Limburg. The statue, designed by A. Mercenier from Luxembourg (1845-1916), depicts the king on horseback, showcasing his role as the highest-ranking military commander and emphasizing his military skills and leadership qualities.

The design of the statue is intricate and symbolically rich. At each corner of the pedestal, there are four allegorical figures, adding layers of meaning and artistic value to the monument. These figures likely represent various virtues or aspects related to the king's reign or personality.

A notable feature of this monument was the inclusion of a leaden casket at its base. This casket contained two biographies of King William II, dated from 1849 and 1852, serving as a time capsule that linked the monument with the historical context of the king's life and reign.

However, the monument's history includes a period of restoration in 1993, during which the casket was temporarily removed. Unfortunately, the casket was adversely affected by moisture and suffered irreparable damage. This incident highlights the challenges in preserving historical artifacts and the importance of careful conservation efforts.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Hague. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Koning Willem II (King William II) on Map

Sight Name: Koning Willem II (King William II)
Sight Location: Hague, Netherlands (See walking tours in Hague)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Hague, Netherlands

Create Your Own Walk in Hague

Create Your Own Walk in Hague

Creating your own self-guided walk in Hague is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Scheveningen Walking Tour

Scheveningen Walking Tour

Originally an independent fishing village, today Scheveningen is one of The Hague's eight districts. With its long beaches loved by both the young and old in all seasons, Scheveningen gets particularly crowded in summer.

Modern as it is, this seaside resort, the most popular in Holland, boasts a great deal of history – stretching all the way back to 1280 – with the locals still...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
The Hague Introduction Walking Tour

The Hague Introduction Walking Tour

While the official capital of the Netherlands is Amsterdam, The Hague is the country's de facto capital and administrative center.

Little is known about the origin of The Hague as such. What is certain is that it was founded by one of the last counts of the House of Holland, Floris IV, who already owned two residences in the area, but had his eye set on a waterfront property near the pond...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Hague's Classic Architectural Jewels

Hague's Classic Architectural Jewels

As the third largest metropolis in the Netherlands, The Hague has plenty to offer architecturally discerning travelers. The city is a living proof of a harmonious coexistence between a modern, easy on the eye skyline and a steeped in history downtown. Owing to its fascinating (political) past, The Hague has a plethora of historic buildings associated with worship, governance, royalty and...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles