Festivities in the Prinsentuin in Leeuwarden

In return for his share in bringing the Dutch Revolt to an end, the Frisian Stadholder Willem Frederik was given a plot of land in Leeuwarden, where he had a park laid out, in 1648: the Prinsentuin (Princes’ garden). Initially it served as the Nassau-Dietz family’s private garden.

150 years later, King William I donated the garden to the Leeuwarden community, so that everybody could have a stroll in the shade of its massive trees. Many people made use of this opportunity, as can be seen in this painting by Jacob Bonga, which has an extra festive touch because the people depicted in it are dressed up in their finest traditional costumes for the occasion of the King’s visit that day.