Queen Emma Monuments
There are multiple Queen Emma monuments in The Hague, where she played an extended role in the Dutch monarchy, first as Queen Consort to King Willem III and then Queen Regent when he died as his heir, Princess Wilhelmina, was only 10 years old.
Queen Consort Emma (1858-1934) was the second wife of King Willem III of the Netherlands (1817-1890). They married in January 1879 when he was 62 and she was 21. They had one child together, Wilhelmina, born 31 August 1880. She became heir to the throne at age 4 when her last remaining stepbrother, Alexander, Prince of Orange, died at age 32.
Princess Wilhelmina inherited the throne 6 years later, in 1890, upon the death of her father. As Wilhelmina was only 10 years old, Emma became Queen Regent, a position she would hold until 1898 when Wilhelmina turned 18.
During her time as Queen Consort (1879-1890) and Queen Regent (1890-1898), Emma was highly regarded in the eyes of the public and the government. It is no surprise, therefore, that there are multiple Queen Emma monuments in The Hague to recognize her contributions…
QUEEN EMMA MONUMENTS IN THE HAGUE
Jozef Israelsplein
On the Jozef Israelsplein in Benoordenhout there is a bronze statue depicting a seated Queen Emma in front of a stone wall. The monument was designed by Dutch sculpture Toon Dupuis and architect Co Brandes. It was unveiled in 1936, two years after her death.
Regentesseplein
A second monument to Emma is a granite and sandstone obelisk at the center of Regentesseplein in the Zeeheldenkwartier. It was created by AWM Ode and SF Gips and unveiled in 1905. This monument is specifically in recognition and gratitude for the eight years (1890-1898) she acted as Regent for Queen Wilhelmina.
There is a circular bronze portrait of the Queen Mother on the east-facing side of the obelisk, under which the words appear… EMMA Koningin Regentes De Nederland.
Lange Voorhout
Not far from the former Lange Voorhout Palace (now the Escher Museum), where the Queen Mother lived from 1901 until her death in 1934, is a stone bench memorial to Emma. This one is easy to miss due to its low profile.
Across the front are the words ‘In Dankbare Herennering Aan. En Ter Vererende Nagedachtenis Van H.M. Koningin Emma‘ (In gratitude to and in honour of the memory of H.M. Queen Emma). On the back ‘Aangeboren Door De Orde Van Vrij Metselaren Onder Het Grootoosten Der Nederlanden In Het Jaar Negentienhonderd Acht En Dertig. Vernield In Negentienhonderd Veertig Her-Opgericht In Negentienhonderd Negen En Vijftig‘ (Offered by the Order of Free Masons from the great east of the Netherlands in the year nineteen hundred thirty eight. Destroyed in nineteen hundred forty. Replaced in nineteen hundred fifty nine).
Related information…