The young Emilia of Nassau

Who is Emilia van Oranje Nassau?

In the 17th century, Emilia, the daughter of Prince William of Orange, acquired Wijchen Castle. Driven by her love for Emanuel, a man without prospects and of Catholic descent, she had the castle extensively renovated. The money for this renovation came partly from the sale of her precious pearl necklace. However, their love story was anything but easy; due to Emanuel's religion and social status, they were not allowed to marry.

Despite these obstacles, Emilia and Emanuel settled together in Wijchen. To emphasize their deep connection, they had numerous decorations placed on the castle that referred to their love. A striking example of this are the wall anchors in the closed 'S-shape', which stand for 'fermesse', an old French word that means 'faithful'.

These symbols of loyalty and love tell the story of Emilia and Emanuel, a story that still lives on in the walls of Wijchen Castle, as a timeless tribute to their unwavering love.