At the end of the 18th century, the Netherlands fell under the spell of revolution. Inspired by the American Revolution and even before the French, the so-called patriots want to get rid of the corrupt administration of the House of Orange and pave the way for reforms. Their most powerful representative is Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck (1761-1825). His great legal and political talent is recognized by the man who decided the fate of Europe at that time: Napoleon.