Koningin-Moeder Emma (Queen Mother Emma), Hague

The Queen Mother Emma Monument in The Hague is an important tribute to Queen Consort Emma, who played a pivotal role in Dutch history. Emma, who was married to King Willem III, assumed the role of Queen Regent following his passing to oversee the rule of their young heir, Princess Wilhelmina. Her time as the Queen of the Netherlands from 1879 to 1890 and as Regent for Queen Wilhelmina from 1890 to 1898 earned her widespread respect and admiration, resulting in the creation of several monuments in her honor in The Hague.

Situated on Jozef Israel Israel Square in Benoordenhout, The Hague, this monument consists of a bronze statue of Queen Emma seated on a stepped stone platform. It was revealed in 1936 and is the creation of Dutch sculptor Toon Dupuis and architect Co Brandes.

Dupuis, known for his traditional artistic style, is responsible for the most remarkable aspect of the monument: the likeness of Emma. In his portrayal, she is depicted as a dignified Matres Familias, embodying both regal authority and warmth, which is achieved through Dupuis' formal artistic approach and the use of fragile sandstone.

Nonetheless, in the year 2000, a significant restoration project brought alterations to the monument. The sculpture had sustained substantial damage, prompting a redesign and recasting of it in bronze, a decision that somewhat modified the original gentle and warm ambiance envisioned by Dupuis. Despite these modifications, the monument remains a prominent tribute to Queen Emma's influence on Dutch history and her esteemed position as the "Mother of the Netherlands."