Schielandshuis

In October 1811, this elegant building didn't function as a museum or civic hall. It became a temporary imperial residence, hastily refitted to welcome Napoleon Bonaparte and his empress, Marie-Louise, on their tour through the French Empire, which the Netherlands had officially become just a year earlier.

The city pulled out all the stops. Streets were decorated, 106 young men dressed in ornate uniforms stood ready as an honor guard, and the Schielandshuis was transformed into a luxury hotel worthy of an emperor. Cannon fire and ringing bells announced Napoleon's arrival on October 25th.

Not everyone was thrilled, of course. Opponents were quietly detained beforehand, fireworks were banned, and displaying anything orange, the color tied to the Dutch royal house, was strictly forbidden. Still, some residents managed to smuggle orange ribbons into the crowds. A small act of defiance that took some nerve.

Napoleon and Marie-Louise toured the harbor and visited the shipyard known as 's Lands Werf. One eyewitness described Napoleon rowing through the water in a red velvet boat adorned with a golden eagle on the bow, the rain apparently no concern to him whatsoever.

Apparently, emperors don't check the weather forecast.