On Friday, March 6, 2013, His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of Oranje officially opened the exhibition, Peter the Great: Inspired Tsar, at the Hermitage Amsterdam.
According to RVD and the official website for the Hermitage Amsterdam:
“The exhibition takes place against the background of three anniversaries: The Netherlands-Russia Year 2013, the 400th anniversary of the canal and the 525-year anniversary of the Dutch Navy, which also served as a model for the Peter the Great’s established Russian fleet.
The exhibition paints a picture of this unconventional, inspired and inquisitive Russian Tsar, who by the time he took power at the age of 17 was determined to transform his country.
His achievements include reforming the military and the church, expanding trade and industry, and improving education and public health. He turned Russia into a great European power with a brand-new capital city: St Petersburg, his ‘Window on the West.’
With historical artifacts, paintings, gold jewelry from the ancient world, weapons and unique documents, the exhibition will sketch the life of this peerless ruler. From his youth Peter collected art, including a Rembrandt, planting the seed for St Petersburg’s later Hermitage collection. An enthusiastic traveller, he went two visits to Western Europe, including the Dutch Republic. It was the city of Amsterdam, in particular, that inspired him to found his new capital.”
If you are interested in viewing the exhibition, Peter the Great: Inspired Tsar, it will be open to the public on beginning on March 9, 2013, and will end on September 13, 2013. For more information about the exhibition please click here.
Photo courtesy of RVD/HKH
The Royal Correspondent 
