Kaiser Wilhelm II, Part 2

The article notes that the closure would happen on 1 Jan 13. Since that date has passed, it would seem something must've changed? Minister of Culture Jet Bussemaker suggested in a debate  that Huis Doorn might be eligible for subsidy for projects on the First World War.

"If the plans of the Netherlands' recently elected coalition government are implemented, House Doorn will close its doors to the public on 1 January 2013. The country's cultural advisory body, which oversees the manor house and its 15-acre estate, has decreed that it "is not Dutch enough" to warrant its ¤441,000 (£354,000) in annual funding. As part of its austerity budget, the Dutch will cut that down to ¤216, 000, a measure that will force the closure of the house as a museum. "We will not be able to keep the house open to the public. Within a matter of years, the place will be forgotten and I fear that this will be used as a pretext to get rid of the vast collection of photographs and thousands of priceless royal artefacts," Mr Goossens said ."

The official website notes nothing of any potential closing--it lists its operating hours as normal.

The vote took place in late December and Huis Doorn, and another museum, didn't get good news. A proposition of three parties to create an additional budget for them too failed to obtain a majority. Huis Doorn plans to start a juridical procedure against the cuts. Also, the German Stiftung Preussischer Schlosser und Garten has indicated that they are quite willing to start talks with Huis Doorn on how they can help to keep the museum open.

On a side note, in December, over twenty silver objects, mostly cups, have been stolen from Museum Huis Doorn. Burglars gained access to the museum Sunday night, taking the items which represent a great cultural and historical value.

Actually, their official webpage does say something--but not under the English tab, only the German and Dutch.

"Vorstand, Direktion, Mitarbeiter und Ehrenamtliche von Museum Huis Doorn sind enttäuscht und empört über die Kürzung der Subvention die der Staatssekretär Zijlstra angekündigt hat. Statt € 441.000.- pro Jahr empfängt das aussergewöhnliche Museum in Zukunft nur noch € 216.953.-. Dieses Reichsmuseum verliert dann die Existenz. Viele Jahre von wichtiger Arbeit wird vernichtet.
Die Kürzung wurde am 21. Mai bekannt, der historische Wert von Haus und Sammlung werden nicht berücksichtigt. Die Sammlung muss zwar verwaltet werden und behalten bleiben aber hinter verschlossenen Türen. Es ist unverständlich dass dieses Gutachten, trotz aller Reaktionen aus der ganzen Welt vom Kabinett das demissioniert hat, akzeptiert wird. Die festliche Eröffnung des Parlamentsjahres am 18.September d.J. war für das Reichsmuseum Huis Doorn ein trauriger Tag.
Das Kabinett will dass Huis Doorn die Türen schliesst. Die Subvention ist ausschliesslich für Verwaltung und Erhaltung der Sammung und nicht mehr abgestimmt auf das Publikum um das Museum zu besuchen.
Huis Doorn will das Äußerste tun um für das Publikum zugänglich zu bleiben. Mitglieder des Parlaments erhalten Information über die Abwicklung vom Etat des Kultusministeriums. Diese Information macht deutlich dass die Sparmassnahmen kaum etwas bringen aber in historischer Hinsicht Verlust bedeuten. Huis Doorn wird gegen die Kürzung der Subvention Berufung einlegen. Im Jahre 2014 wird in ganz Europa dem Ausbruch des Ersten Weltkrieges Beachtung geschenkt. Huis Doorn ist in diesem Zusammenhang eine der wichtigsten historischen Stellen in Europa. Es kann doch nicht wahr sein,dass das Publikum Huis Doorn nicht mehr besuchen kann.
Es wurde einen Subventionsantrag eingereicht und Huis Doorn wird alle Möglichkeiten untersuchen um das Museum dennoch offen zu halten."

I ran it through Google translate and it's basically that the staff is very angered by the decision on the cuts and they will keep fighting. Someone who actually speaks German can provide a true translation. You wouldn't know anything from the information in English. There's quite a bit if you look under the Dutch or German. Odd.

Thank you very much!

I looked at the German page too and managed to glean a little about opening times - I hope they update the English page at some point.

I went to Doorn about 15 years ago and it is well worth visiting. I hope it stays open.

Ann

Depending on the long term status of Doorn, is there any possibility that Wilhelm II would be relocated to the Temple of Antiquity to join Dona and other family?

There was a suggestion some years ago that he be reburied in Berlin Cathedral, but his own instructions were for burial at Doorn unless he returned to Germany in his lifetime.

I also read in Catherine Clay's book that Wilhelm refused to be buried in a country that was not a monarchy. Either way, it seems, his being returned to Potsdam is probably very unlikely.

We've seen repatriations in the last couple decades of exiled royals being re-interred in Russia and Yugoslavia. One never knows. I doubt the family would press the issue but if Doorn eventually does close, they may very well want to have him reburied with the other Hohenzollerns.

Agreed. It seems unlikely that the issue will arise unless Doorn closes, and then it's a matter for the family.

Meanwhile, have there been any suggestions of moving Karl from Madeira to vienna? After all, he is buried on Madeira because he died there during a fairly brief visit, whereas Wilhelm was settled at Doorn for 20 years.

Ann

Hi Ann,

I was wondering the same thing several years ago - since Zita is interred in Vienna, why not repatriate Karl??

Semi-explanation:
I have a Portugese friend, who hails from Madeira, not far from Funchal, and he told me that the citizens there do not want Karl moved as his site is supposedly credited with miracles and he is now Blessed in the Catholic trek to sainthood and they don't want him moved.
Apparently, the Archduke Otto allowed his father to remain in Funchal, with his blessing...

Just passing along what I was told - - don't know if any of this is official.  Please don't conclude that this is fact...

Larry

As we approach the 100 year anniversaries of so many WWI events and tragedies, the decisions about Willhelm's next resting place could be tainted by such events, should Doorn close in the next few years. The family could use the closing of Doorn and the anniversaries as a positive marketing tool in order to close some wounds and set a vision for the future. On the other hand, forces could overshadow any positive opportuntiies with 100-year-old rages getting dredged up once again.

Hello Larry

Thanks for this interesting info. I did wonder whether Karl's beatification was a factor.

For what it's worth, and this is entirely a personal view, I'm not a believer in reburials when the original burial was a decent Christian burial (Nicholas, Alexandra and family are a different matter). If Otto was happy for his father to stay in Funchal, then there he should stay.

Ann