Imperial Court
In Huis Doorn, the emperor still had an imposing but much smaller court. Part of the staff was Dutch and part of the staff originated from Germany.
In addition to his adjutant Sigurd von Ilsemann, several other adjutants worked at Huis Doorn, among which was Ulrich von Sell, Kaiser Wilhelm II's asset manager.
Company
The staff had various duties, but also had an important social function. The emperor did not like to be on his own much and wanted others to join him in his daily activities such as cutting down trees and discussing politics in the evening.
Demanding
The emperor was demanding of his staff and at the evening get-togethers, according to Von Ilsemann's notes, almost all the gentlemen on duty 'fought against falling asleep again and again'. On top of this, the adjutants kept tabs on the situation in Germany and discussed newspaper clippings with the emperor every day.
Belief in return
An important aspect of the emperor's time spent in the Netherlands is the way he continued to believe in his own right to return and his imperial title. The staff did not share similar feelings, and Von Ilsemann was repeatedly surprised by the way in which many staff members tried to humour the emperor about this subject.
Tea break while working in the park
Wilhelm II while chopping wood in the park