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William I of the Netherlands

The Hague, 24 Aug 1772 – Berlin, 12 Dec 1843

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born24 Aug 1772, The Haguenot verified1 source
  • MarriedWilhelmine of Prussia, Queen of the Netherlandsnot verified1 source
  • MarriedHenrietta d'Oultremontnot verified1 source
  • TitleKing of the Netherlands, 1815–1840or Grand Duke of Luxembourg, 1815–1840not verified1 source
  • TitleGrand Duke of Luxembourg, 1815–1840or King of the Netherlands, 1815–1840not verified1 source
  • Died12 Dec 1843, Berlinnot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 24 Aug 1772

    Born in The Hague

  2. 1792–1810

    5 children are born

  3. 1815–1840

    King of the Netherlands

  4. 1815–1840

    Grand Duke of Luxembourg

  5. 12 Dec 1843

    Dies in Berlin, aged 71

Family

See the tree

Partners

Children · 5

During his lifetime

He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around The Hague.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1770s · William I is born in The Hague

In the news1770–1771

Migration during the 1770-71 famine

During the great famines of 1770–71, peasants from other parts of Germany migrated to Prussia where food supplies were more accessible.

Getting around

Canal boats provided reliable public transport

Ordinary people frequently used horse-drawn canal boats known as trekschuiten, which operated on a reliable hourly schedule between major towns. These boats were favored for their predictability, affordability, and stability, allowing passengers to read, write, or socialize during the journey.

In Europe1772–1795

Poland is partitioned

Russia, Prussia and Austria divided Poland among themselves in three steps until, in 1795, it vanished from the map for 123 years.

Daily life

Rainwater storage for household use

In cities like Amsterdam, ground and canal water were often too polluted or brackish for consumption, so residents relied on rain barrels (regenbakken) installed beneath homes or in attics to store clean water.

What people wore

Symbolic festive clothing in Hindeloopen

In Hindeloopen, festive chintz coats called wentkes had symbolic color meanings; a white one with red flowers was worn by brides, while black ones with white flowers were used during specific stages of mourning. These festive coats were specifically worn during winter months, from November to February, when the men were home from sea.

Music

Guitars in Dutch Domestic Life

Between 1750 and 1810, the guitar was popular in Dutch homes for respectable socializing and accompanying singing, often taught by French masters.

At the table

Beer was the common everyday drink

Beer was safer to drink than local water, which could be contaminated, so it was consumed by both adults and children; this small beer had a low alcohol content of 0.5 to 1.5 percent.