Gedenknaald Koning Willem I (Memorial of King William I), Hague

The Memorial of King William I is a monument that serves as a tribute to two significant events in Dutch history. It commemorates Prince William V's, the last hereditary stadtholder of the Republic of the United Netherlands, departure in 1795 and the arrival of William I Frederik, the first king of the Netherlands, in Scheveningen on November 30, 1813.

The idea to construct this monument originated in 1863 under the initiative of King Willem III. He appointed his uncle, Prince Frederik, as the chairman of a committee tasked with creating a national memorial that would honor the restoration of Dutch independence.

On August 24, 1865, which coincided with King Willem I's birthday, the commemorative monument, in the form of a needle-like structure, was unveiled. Prince Frederik delivered a speech during the ceremony, and Mr. H. Baron Collot d'Escury, who was acting as the mayor at the time, officially received the monument on behalf of the municipality. Notable attendees at the event included Queen Sophia, Crown Prince William, Prince Alexander, and Prince Hendrik.

This monument holds national significance and was designed by architect Arend Roodenburg, with construction carried out by stonemasons PJ Devillers & Company. In 2003, the monument underwent restoration to preserve its historical importance.

In 1863, as a tribute to the aforementioned events, William III laid the foundation stone for Plein 1813, which was subsequently unveiled six years later by Prince Frederik.