The arrival of Frederik V of the Palantine and Elizabeth Stuart in Flushing on 29 April 1613

One of the largest paintings in the Frans Hals Museum: a view of Vlissingen, with numerous ships in the foreground. It depicts the arrival from England of the young newlyweds Prince Frederick V of the Palatinate and the English princess Elizabeth Stuart. They made the crossing on the Prince Royal (left of centre), accompanied by a fleet of English vessels. Princes Maurice and Frederick Henry formed the reception committee: their Orange vessel lies in the centre foreground. The newly married couple are being rowed into the harbour aboard a fine sloop. They subsequently continued their journey to Heidelberg, where they were to live. The event was a significant one for the United Provinces: Frederick V symbolized the Protestant cause against the Spanish aggressor and the Catholic inquisition. Holland, after all, was still at war with Spain. Shortly after this event, the Republic signed a treaty with the Union of Protestant German rulers. Hendrick Vroom of Haarlem, who painted this huge canvas, is regarded as the father of Dutch maritime painting.