The Queen and Her People
her feelings on the occasion of her “inauguration” (for of “coronation,” as we understand it, there was none), when she said at the time of taking the oath: “I count myself happy to rule the Dutch people: small in number, but great in courage—great in nature and in character.” Dapper maar klein (Brave, though small). In 1909 Queen Wilhelmina presented the nation, greatly to its joy, with an heiress to the throne, and heartfelt rejoicings took place on this occasion.
During the summer months Her Majesty lives at Het Loo (The Grove), a charming residence in Gelderland, north of Apeldoorn; in winter at the Palace in the Noordeinde, at The Hague; and for ten days in the year she occupies the Stadhuis at Amsterdam. Louis Napoleon accepted this residence as a palace, which it has remained ever since, but as William I.
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