Post by Ella
We go to see the big Vermeer exhibit tomorrow in Amsterdam so it was fitting that today we visited the Museum Prinsenhof’s exhibit on Vermeer’s Delft. Esther met us at Cafe Barbaar in Delft for cappuccinos and pastry. Then the three of us strolled to the Prinsenhof just a few feet away.
Along with Vermeer’s Delft, I got a great overview of the history of the House of Orange which is the current ruling house. Although “ruling” may be a misnomer because the King really has no power. By the way Orange in Dutch is pronounced something like “ornya”.
One interesting but sad tidbit…the current King has three daughters, the oldest of whom is the Crown Princess and will become the queen. She is 19 years old and goes to University in Amsterdam but because there have been death threats against her, she must live at home under guard. Esther says there are criminal gangs who have conducted assassinations of lawyers and witnesses. I wondered why target the King and his daughter. The King has no ruling power and certainly the crown princess doesn’t either. Esther said “because they can”.