Prince Frederick and his family

Prince Frederick left a clear mark on the appearance of Wassenaar. He completed a military education and studied at Leiden University and held various impressive positions, such as admiral and commissary-general of war (comparable with the current position of minister of defence). Due to these titles, you might almost forget that he was also “just” a man: a father and a husband, with hobbies and interests. Who was Prince Frederick and what did his private life look like? You can discover that here. 

In the 19th century, Prince Frederick was one of the richest men in the Netherlands. He received vast inheritances as a result of which his wealth increased considerably. In addition, the tenancy of farms and the returns on, for example, sand extraction, beer brewing and sawmills yielded substantial revenues. In the colder months, he resided in the Hague where he held receptions and visited the opera and concerts. In the summer and autumn, he lived with his family in his country home De Paauw where he also received guests in a more informal atmosphere and could lead a quiet life.

A typical day…

At De Paauw, the present town hall of Wassenaar, Prince Frederick’s days had a gentle rhythm. In the morning, the ladies enjoyed breakfast in their room, and he ate together with the lords in the dining room. Prince Frederick was a hard-working man who spent a lot of time in his study. This is now the mayor’s office.

After work, Prince Frederick played cards or a game of billiards. Or people made drawings, embroidered or played music. After lunch, everybody rested and then it was time to enjoy some fresh air. Prince Frederick liked to take his guests on a tour through his park, and he had a passion for hunting. The women visited one of the gardens near the house, like the rose garden, also called the Princess Garden, or a kitchen garden or flower garden. After this exercise, food was once again served, and everyone could revitalise during a quiet evening. 

Fervent hunter

Prince Frederick was crazy about hunting. It was an ideal moment for the gentleman to meet each other and compete with each other. In a special carriage, they rode to the hunting area where beaters flushed the game for them. Servants carried their equipment, gave them the guns and picked up the game shot. The prince and his guests also tested their shooting skills in the shooting house. After the hunt, they came together satisfied at hunting lodge Ter Horst for a hearty meal and a good discussion about politics.

Father and husband 

Prince Frederick married his cousin, Princess Louise of Prussia on 21 May 1825. They spent a lot of time together, but each had his/her own activities as well. For example, Louise sometimes went to a spa due to her health while the prince made a working visit. Subsequently, they met each other half way along the road they travelled. They had four children: Louise, Willem, Frederik and Marie. The two daughters grew up and married; through her marriage, Louise became the Queen of Sweden. The death of both of their sons in childhood caused the couple considerable sorrow. William was just one year old when he died, and Frederick died when he was ten.

Peacemaker

Prince Frederik was known as a sympathetic man with a stable character and a considerable sense of responsibility. He took good care of his staff and servants and pacified the tensions in the family, which were sometimes considerable. For example, the prince maintained contact with his father, despite his father’s controversial second marriage. And when his father died, he continued to support his father’s widow. He also mediated in the divorce of his younger sister Marianne and dealt with the debt-ridden legacy of his brother William II. Prince Frederick played a big role as a peacemaker.

A Freemason 

Prince Frederik was Grand Master in the Order of Freemasons. This was an organisation of gentlemen who wanted to improve society and who put themselves at the service of their fellow human beings. Despite the good intentions, the prince received a lot of criticism: the order was an exclusive and therefore somewhat secretive community and the Catholics, in particular, viewed this as a threat. However, the prince was not deterred by this and was Grand Master for more than 65 years. He also bequeathed the order a large collection of special books and a lodge building on the Fluwelen Burgwal in The Hague.

Fond of travelling

Prince Frederick travelled a lot to do business, to maintain social contacts or to escape the bustle of the city. He regularly travelled from his city palace in The Hague to his estates in Wassenaar and Bad Muskau, a location on the River Oder in the current German-Polish border area (he had several estates in this former Silesian region). The prince was also often found in Berlin where he grew up, and many of his relatives still lived. He travelled by carriage. From 1843 onwards, after the construction of the railway towards Amsterdam, the train was a much quicker and more comfortable alternative. When he travelled by train, he had his own compartment, while there was also enough room on the train for his court to accompany him.

Discover it for yourself!

Prince Frederik is no longer alive but if you want to gain an idea about his life, then visit (parts of) the Park Route. Walk through De Horsten like the prince once did and feel history come alive again: view the country houses which were part of his extensive property and enjoy a drink in the former shooting house, which is now a teahouse!