Theater Nomade – William of Orange

They were once friends and pages at the court of Emperor Charles V in Brussels: The distant cousins Willem van Oranje and Hendrik II (Grote Geus) van Brederode. But after Willem refused to deliver troops to Henry during the revolt against the Spaniards, “our” Henry took the Prince of Orange out of his will. This resulted in a lawsuit between the Oranjes and the Brederodes which would last a century and a half.

But that was all in the past and now it is going to happen: William of Orange will visit Brederode Castle! With its special location performances, Theater Nomade has build up a great reputation. For two years, this group played the IJmuidense Fortress Island. Now Nomade returns to Brederode Castle. The performance is very spectacular. Theatre maker Ab Gietelink performs with his group the life of Willem van Oranje. This lends itself perfectly to a historical spectacle. From a grandstand in the courtyard you can see all the dramatic events from Willem’s life: From the Dutch Revolt, the Siege of Haarlem and the abdication of Emperor Charles V (1555) until the murder of the Prinsenhof (1584).

For ordering maps See the website of Stadsschouwburg Velsen. For more information see the website of Theater Nomade. And watch the trailer.

To get in the mood, there is currently a small exhibition about Willem van Oranje in one of the stock chambers of the ruin.