Vierhonderdjarige viering van de geboorte van Willem I, prins van Oranje-Nassau 1933

This bronze medal commemorating the 400th anniversary of Willem I's birth, by M.P.J. Fleur, looks like it was struck with great care. I imagine Fleur, hunched over a workbench, meticulously carving the die from which these medals were cast. It’s a world of tiny movements. There's a portrait of Willem on one side, with such detailed features - the beard, the serious gaze. You can almost feel the weight and presence of history bearing down. And then the ribbon—a faded orange—gives it a sense of being worn, held, and cherished, reminding us that history isn't just about dates and names; it’s also personal. It's something to wear close to your heart. This reminds me of other portrait medals. It feels connected to a history of honoring figures and, perhaps more broadly, an ongoing conversation about what gets remembered and how. What will people say about me 400 years from now?