Huis Doorn

The original structure was built in the 13th century, but was destroyed and rebuilt in the 14th century. It was again rebuilt in the late 18th century in a conservative manner and yet again, in the mid-19th century. A park which surrounds the building was laid out as what the Dutch describe as an English landscape garden at the start of the 19th century, but later adjusted by Wilhelm and others to add features including areas of woodland garden. Baroness Ella van Heemstra (1900–1984), the mother of actress Audrey Hepburn, spent much of her childhood living in the house. ==Residence of Wilhelm II==

and Wilhelm II at Huis Doorn in 1933 of Wilhelm II The property was purchased for 500,000 guilders in 1919 by Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor (German: Kaiser), as his residence-in-exile (1920–1941), following his abdication after World War I. Wilhelm's asylum in the Netherlands was based on family ties with Queen Wilhelmina. However, Wilhelmina always refused to meet Wilhelm. As he disliked having to answer to a minor official, he rarely travelled beyond the "free" limit. The former Emperor regularly exercised by chopping down many of the estate's trees, splitting the logs into stacks of firewood, thereby denuding the matured landscape as the years progressed. Hence he was called by his enemies "The Woodchopper of Doorn". In January 1922, Wilhelm invited the widowed princess Hermine of Greiz and her young son to Huis Doorn. He took a liking to Hermine's company. They had much in common and got married on 5 November 1922. Hermine lived in Huis Doorn with Wilhelm in his exile until his death in 1941. Wilhelm was known for anti-Semitic views, but he did have close Jewish friends like Walther Rathenau, In 1938, Wilhelm's grandson, Prince Louis Ferdinand, was married to Grand Duchess Kira of Russia, in Huis Doorn. Thirty members of royal families attended the ceremony. However, Queen Wilhelmina sent her daughter Princess Juliana. On 10 May 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. Wilhelm had been offered asylum in Great Britain, but he refused to take up the offer. On 14 May, the Wehrmacht arrived at Huis Doorn, but Wilhelm and his household was undisturbed. Wilhelm II died of a pulmonary embolism at Huis Doorn, on 4 June 1941, with German occupation soldiers on guard at the gates of his estate. He lies in a maroon-coloured coffin, above the ground, in a small mausoleum in the gardens, to await his return to Germany upon the restoration of the Prussian monarchy, according to the terms of his will. His wish that no swastikas be displayed at his funeral was not heeded. Five of Wilhelm's beloved dachshunds are buried in the park. A marker is dedicated to the memory of his dog, Senta, who was a favourite of Wilhelm and died in 1927 at the age of 20. ==Historic house museum==

The Dutch government seized the manor house and its household contents in May 1945 and, since then, many new trees have been planted and the wooded parkland is being returned to its earlier state. Huis Doorn opened its doors as a historic house museum in 1956. In June each year, a devoted band of German monarchists come to pay their respects and lay wreaths, accompanied by marchers in uniforms and representatives from modern monarchist organisations, like Tradition und Leben of Cologne. The house became a national heritage site or rijksmonument in 1997. ==Notes==