Christiaan Huygens – A family affair - Proeven van Vroeger

Amongst the highest of the bourgeois civilians – the non-nobles – Constantijn Sr.
joined the head of the internal organization of the court, the Steward, and the other members
of the Estate Council of the Prince at the Council Table for the courtly dinner, enjoying the
privilege of being served the most luxurious dishes at the same time as the prince. 152 Lower
courtiers had to serve the higher, adding a sauce to the meal for the higher-ranking, but more
importantly it “reinforc[ed] the hierarchy” 153 – something that had been a long-time tradition 154
but was taken more serious by Prince Frederik Hendrik and Princess Amalia. 155 Huygens’s
position was visible for many, as high army-officers, high aristocrats and courtiers from all
over Europe shared the dining table. 156
The greatest distinction, however, lay in events that touched the core of the court’s
existence and position, such as princely marriages, funerals, coronations, grandes entrées and
international tournaments. During a five-day ring-tilting contest with abundant festivities and
splendor for thousands of guests, organized by Frederik Hendrik in 1638 on the occasion of
the marriage of Johan Wolfert, Count of Brederode, the highest aristocrats in attendance
enjoyed a collation every evening at Constantijn Sr.’s new villa at the Plein. 157 Finally,
Constantijn Sr.’s (posthumous) proximity to the Prince and his House can be seen in the
privileged position he had on the prints of the deathbed of Prince Frederik Hendrik. Though
at a distance of the Prince, Constantijn Sr. is depicted very prominently – amidst the highest
nobles affiliated with the House of Orange-Nassau he is presented en face, on the foreground in
full length and in detail.
Constantijn Sr. was close to the center of the House of Orange in more ways, however.
A cosmopolitan courtier with great ambition for his own social growth, Huygens also knew
that the Oranges needed splendid, courtly representation and extravagant spending in order
for their House to settle its position in the European aristocracy. The Oranges, unlike many
whether one belonged to the nobility or not. POWIS, J. (1984) Aristocracy, Oxford, UK ; New York,
NY, USA, B. Blackwell., p10-1
152 On the numerous occasions that the Prince was on military missions, Amalia would normally head
the court. ZIJLMANS, J. (1997) Life at the Hague Court. IN KEBLUSEK, M., ZIJLMANS, J. &
MUSEUM, H. H. (Eds.) Princely display : the court of Frederik Hendrik of Orange and Amalia van Solms. The
Hague; Zwolle, Historical Museum; Waanders.
153 DELEN, M.-A. (1997) The Genesis of the Court at The Hague. IN KEBLUSEK, M., ZIJLMANS,
J. & MUSEUM, H. H. (Eds.) Princely display: the court of Frederik Hendrik of Orange and Amalia van Solms.
The Hague; Zwolle, Historical Museum; Waanders., p27
154 Ibid., p18-9, 20-1, 22-27
155 FRIJHOFF, W. Ibid.The Princely Court at The Hague: a National and European Perspective., p15
156 ZIJLMANS, J. (1997) Life at the Hague Court. IN KEBLUSEK, M., ZIJLMANS, J. &
MUSEUM, H. H. (Eds.) Princely display : the court of Frederik Hendrik of Orange and Amalia van Solms. The
Hague; Zwolle, Historical Museum; Waanders., p30-1.
157 Ibid., p42
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