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William IV, Prince of Orange

Leeuwarden, 1 Sep 1711 – Huis ten Bosch, 22 Oct 1751

9 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 1 Sep 1711

    Born in Leeuwarden

  2. 28 Feb 1743

    A daughter is born

  3. 22 Oct 1751

    Dies in Huis ten Bosch, aged 40

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 1

During his lifetime

He lived through 5 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Leeuwarden.

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

The 1710s · William is born in Leeuwarden

In the news1713–1720

Cattle plague epidemic (1713–1720)

A severe cattle plague epidemic devastated herds across the Netherlands between 1713 and 1720, decimating rural livelihoods.

What people wore

Layered skirts and hidden pockets

Ordinary women frequently wore up to six skirts layered together, which were worn and removed as a single unit known as a "pels" (fur). Beneath these layers, they secured a linen or cotton pocket, measuring 15 by 30 cm, around their waist to carry items like money or handkerchiefs.

Getting around

Cost and comfort classes of travel

Travelers could pay for different classes of comfort: a seat in the hold was cheaper, while the cabin (roef) offered superior accommodations for a higher price. In summer, a trip from Delft to Rotterdam cost three stuivers in the hold and three-and-a-half in the cabin.

War of the Spanish Succession. Europe’s powers fought for thirteen years over who would inherit the Spanish throne; a Bourbon kept it, and Britain gained Gibraltar.In Europe · 1701–1714

War of the Spanish Succession. Europe’s powers fought for thirteen years over who would inherit the Spanish throne; a Bourbon kept it, and Britain gained Gibraltar.

DavidDijkgraaf · CC0

In the news1716–1720

Financial speculation crisis (1716–1720)

During 1716-1720, an epidemic of wild speculation in bubble companies caused financial ruin for many people in Holland.

Music

Common instruments for dance and festivals

Common instruments for rustic dance music during this period included the fiddle (violin) and the bagpipe, which were frequently depicted in paintings of taverns and festivals. Other instruments like the hurdy-gurdy were used by itinerant beggars, while town musicians played the shawm or dulcian for official outdoor events.

Daily life

Public education for boys and girls

Schooling for children was highly valued for its religious importance, with girls and boys often attending public schools together until age twelve to learn reading, writing, and simple arithmetic.