Medal - Willem van Oranje (Holland Nederland Pays-Bas) ND

Reverse

Silouette of the map of the Netherlands, and a symbol of a lion (used in Dutch heraldry for centuries). Surrounded by the name of the country in French, Dutch and English

Script: Latin

Lettering:
HOLLAND
NEDERLAND
PAYS-BAS

Translation: Holland Netherlands Low Countries

Edge

Plain

Comment

William the Silent or William the Taciturn, more commonly known in the Netherlands as William of Orange, was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs that set off the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. Born into the House of Nassau, he became Prince of Orange in 1544 and is thereby the founder of the Orange-Nassau branch and the ancestor of the monarchy of the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, he is also known as Father of the Fatherland.