Emma: Savior of Orange

Escher in The Palace is housed in the former winter palace of Queen Emma, the Queen Mother. In Emma: Savior of Orange, a photo exhibition from her time in The Hague could be seen. In 1878, King Willem III married Adelheid Emma Wilhelmina Theresia, Princess of Waldeck − Pyrmont, 41 years younger. She was 20 years old at the time. She was the first queen in our palace. 20-year-old Emma set to work energetically: she quickly learned Dutch and was informed about culture, politics and constitutional law. This later came in handy during the regency that she fulfilled around the death of her husband William III and in the eight years up to the coronation of Wilhelmina in 1898. Emma was always guided by the importance of the monarchy. After troubles surrounding the royal family in the middle of the 19th century, she laid the foundations for its current popularity through her quiet policy and simple approach.
Emma was a modern woman who made clever use of the new medium of photography for royal PR. Her “charm offensive” with the young Wilhelmina by her side endeared her to the population. Photos of both of them were distributed as postcards.

The exhibition showed the Dutch life of Queen Emma as she wanted to present herself. As a sweet but also strict mother and as a public figure, involved with people and country. She opened hospitals, celebrated anniversaries and made all kinds of visits across the country after her active reign. Her sincere commitment and sense of duty to government and monarchy have shaped the style of subsequent queens. The exhibition Emma: Savior of Orange showed that Queen Emma was more than just the sweetest old lady in Europe.