Beyaz Gül: The Legend of the White Rose and Istanbul’s Eternal Love

In the most ancient corners of Istanbul, where the cobblestone streets and palace facades hold centuries of secrets, there are stories that can’t be found in history books. One of the most touching is the legend of Beyaz Gül (The White Rose), a tale of love, sacrifice, and an eternal promise that is said to still echo in the gardens of the Palais de Hollande, the Dutch consulate in the city.

The Meeting: A Diplomat and a Circassian Beauty

The story is set in the 18th century, a time when Istanbul, the ancient Constantinople, was the center of the Ottoman world and a meeting point for diplomats and merchants from all over the globe. It was into this vibrant scene that Dutch Ambassador Cornelis Calkoen arrived. A man of his time, known for his charisma and reputation as a “don Juan,” he seemed destined for a life of diplomatic intrigue and superficial luxuries.

However, his world changed completely when he met Beyaz Gül, a young woman of Circassian origin. Her name, “White Rose,” was a reflection of her pure beauty and spirit. Despite the strict social and religious barriers that separated a European diplomat from a local woman, their love blossomed instantly and overwhelmingly. It was a forbidden romance, forged in secrecy and fueled by a connection that transcended societal norms. To everyone’s surprise, Calkoen fell madly in love, setting aside his frivolous past to dedicate himself to a love that felt like the one and only true one.

The Departure: A Promise of Love and Seventeen Years of Waiting

The couple’s love could not remain hidden forever. Soon, diplomatic duty called Calkoen back home. The Dutch embassy ordered him to return to his native land. The separation was heartbreaking. With a broken heart, Calkoen made an unbreakable promise to Beyaz Gül: he would come back for her, no matter how long it took. As an oath of love, he assured her that his heart would never belong to another woman.

And so the waiting began. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into one year after another. Beyaz Gül, with unwavering faith in her beloved’s promise, waited patiently. It is said that Calkoen, honoring his vow, never married. The distance could not break the bond that united them, and their platonic love remained alive, a beacon of hope in a sea of uncertainty.

The Tragic Outcome: The Return and the Death

After seventeen long years, the news that Beyaz Gül had waited for her whole life finally reached Istanbul: Ambassador Calkoen was on his way, ready to fulfill his promise. Joy flooded her, a torrent of emotion she hadn’t felt in nearly two decades. Filled with a renewed hope, she went to the Palais de Hollande to greet him.

But destiny, with an incomprehensible cruelty, had other plans. With every step she took toward the palace, her heart beat faster, a mix of euphoria and nervousness. Yet, she could not reach the gates. Just before she could reunite with her beloved, her heart, overwhelmed by the intense emotion and the agony of the long wait, collapsed. She died at the foot of the palace, unaware that Calkoen was just about to arrive.

The Ghost of the Unfulfilled Promise

The legend of Beyaz Gül does not end with her death. It is said that her soul, unable to find peace, became trapped in the gardens of the Palais de Hollande. Her ghost, dressed in white, wanders the grounds in an eternal search for her beloved who returned too late. Her spectral figure is a reminder of a tragic love, of a half-kept promise, and of a heart that broke from the happiness it was about to reach. On quiet nights, it is rumored that her spirit can be seen roaming the garden, an eternal guardian of the tragic love story between Istanbul’s White Rose and the Dutch ambassador.

The Palais de Hollande Today

The story of the “White Rose” ghost couldn’t be so fascinating if the place where it unfolded didn’t still exist. The Palais de Hollande is, in fact, the official residence of the Netherlands’ consul general in Istanbul, and has served as the Dutch diplomatic mission for nearly three centuries.

The palace, with its neoclassical architecture and expansive gardens, is located in the Beyoğlu district, in the heart of Istanbul. Its construction dates back to 1711, and it was built by Sultan Ahmed III for the Dutch ambassador of the time. Over the years, it has witnessed countless historical events, from devastating fires to the political changes of the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic.

The fact that the palace is still in use gives special weight to the legend of Beyaz Gül. Diplomatic staff and visitors to the palace have, over the years, reported unexplained sightings and strange sensations, fueling the myth that the young woman’s soul truly wanders the gardens. The love story of Beyaz Gül and Ambassador Calkoen has become an inseparable part of the palace’s identity, transforming it into more than just a building; it’s a place where the past and present meet.

Thus, the legend of the White Rose remains alive, not only in ghost stories but also in the daily life of a palace that continues to be an important diplomatic center, a silent witness to the tragic love that turned it into a place of mystery and romance in the heart of Istanbul.