William of Orange, the musical: Free Yourself

Willem van Oranje, the musical is a large-scale Dutch production that can be seen from February 2026 in the purpose-built Prinsentheater in Delft. The show tells the historical life story of William the Silent, his struggle against Spanish rule, and the origins of the Netherlands, starring Joris Smit. The production is directed by Theu Boermans, known for Soldier of Orange, and features a 360-degree rotating grandstand. Do you know the story of William of Orange?

William of Orange (1533 – 1584)

Prince of Orange Willem is born in 1533 on slot Dillenburg (Germany) born. In 1544, he inherited the French principality of Orange and was henceforth allowed to call himself 'prince'. William of Orange had Lutheran parents, but Charles V, as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and Lord of the Netherlands, demanded that the young prince receive a Catholic upbringing. Therefore, from the age of twelve, William grew up at the imperial court in Brussels. At that time, Brussels was a cosmopolitan city within an empire that stretched from Eastern Europe to South America. In that environment, Willem becomes well-informed about international political relations and builds up a large network. For instance, he writes some 13.000 letters to his international contacts. Many of these are written in French or in his native German.   Noble opposition From 1555 onwards, Orange attains high positions, and Philip II, the son of Charles V, dispatches him to conduct important international negotiations. As military commander-in-chief, member of the Council of State (advisory council to the monarch), Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, and Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, and Utrecht, he becomes one of the most influential noblemen in the Netherlands. However, his relationship with Philip II deteriorates. Orange becomes the main spokesman for the aristocratic opposition party. He urges the king to adopt less strict persecution of heretics and opposes the increased role of professional civil servants in the national administration. As a result of these new civil servants, noblemen lose their old positions.

Rebellion Resistance against the Spanish monarch is growing. Diplomatic attempts are largely unsuccessful, and in 1566 the Iconoclasm breaks out. Philip II responds to the rebellion by appointing the Duke of Alva, who severely punishes the insurgents. William of Orange flees and, starting in 1568, organizes various military invasions of the Netherlands from Dillenburg Castle to put an end to Alva's rule. In the Netherlands, he also wages his struggle using propaganda tools such as pamphlets, battle songs, and prints. We owe the Wilhelmus, among others, to this. Initially, military success remains elusive. It is only when the Geuzen, as the insurgents call themselves, capture Den Briel on April 1, 1572, that the Revolt begins to gain broader support. (Netherlands (2008): The twelfth sheet in the Canon of the Netherlands series is dedicated to William of Orange and shows the portrait of William I, Prince of Orange by Adriaen Thomas Key and the assassination of William I by Balthasar Gerards on July 10, 1584, in the Prinsenhof in Delft.) Contrary to expectations, the rebels in Holland and Zeeland hold their ground, partly thanks to Orange's perseverance. With the Pacification of Ghent in 1576, they even manage to conclude peace with the other provinces. Orange's ideal seems within reach: the restoration of the seventeen provinces under aristocratic rule and an end to the conflict between the various groups based on tolerance. But this unity is short-lived.   Republic In 1580, Philip II placed a bounty on William of Orange's head. William responded with his Apology (statement of defense), and the States General of the rebellious provinces issued the Act of Abjuration. The essence of both documents was the same: resistance was justified because the king was behaving like a tyrant. On July 10, 1584, the Catholic Balthasar Gerards ended William of Orange's life with pistol shots. William seemed to have achieved nothing. However, a few years after his death, the rebellious provinces developed into an independent, self-aware republic. Therefore, William of Orange is retrospectively regarded as the founder of this new state, the 'father of the fatherland'.  

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William of Orange, the musical: https://www.willemvanoranje.nl/ The musical highlights the life of William of Orange (1533–1584), his transformation from nobleman to leader of the Revolt, and his struggle for religious freedom and tolerance. The story focuses on themes such as resistance, betrayal, and the shaping of the Netherlands. The production utilizes a combination of film, music, and theater. After a long lead-up and various delays, the production materialized in 2025/2026 in a specially designed theater near Delft.