WAR & PEACE

WAR & PEACE

The Dutch stayed neutral during world war one for which Queen Wilhelmina was very pleased. The Queen had strong feelings for the army a tradition going back to her ancestors. Her pleas for a strong defense during WW 1 led to many conflicts with her government.

In September 1939 WW2 broke out in Europe. The Dutch wanted to remain neutral again, but the Germans entered the Netherlands in the 10th of may.

The Queen knew in advance of the attack of which the main purpose was to capture the members of the cabinet and the Royal family, this failed.

The Queen made sure that her daughter Juliana fled to England on the 12th of may 1940. Later she went on to Canada where she remained with her daughters until after the war.

Wilhelmina herself refused to leave the country. She thought that by doing so her people would see her as a coward. However on the 14th of May her cabinet decided that she had to leave the country, she went to England. On arriving she gave a proclamation explaining why she had to leave. Her Majesty stayed in London with her government at 82 Eaton Square.

Souvenirs were made to commemorate both wars.

A rare beaker made in 1914 to commemorate the mobilized troops who stayed  at fort Bij ‘t Hemeltje near the city of Utrecht during WW1. This strong point was built ca. 1880 to withstand any attacks.

Two rare beakers made to commemorate the end of WW1 in 1918 and one to commemorate the official ending of the war in 1919 the treaty of Versailles.

Two plaques were made to commemorate the time Queen Wilhelmina spent in London. The end of WW2 was celebrated with many souvenirs, such as this rare beaker showing the flags of the countries that liberated the Netherlands also an ashtray made out of the metal from the containers, which was used to drop food out of the airplanes on The Netherlands during WW2.

ashtray made of the material from the containers that was used to drop food out of the airplanes during WW2