Background
Like her mother, she was a patron of religious houses.
Like her mother, she was a patron of religious houses.
She was also a sister of William II, Count of Holland and King of Germany. On 9 October 1246, Adelaide married John I of Avesnes, Count of Hainaut. She also insisted on a bilingual education for them.
After he came of age, she continued to advise him.
She gave Town privileges to Schiedam, which afterwards had the right to be called a city. In it she founded Huis te Riviere, which was then the second largest castle in Holland.
Jacob van Maerlant dedicated his first poem, Geesten, to Adelaide. With John I, she had the following issue:
John II, Count of Hainaut and Holland (1247–1304)
Baldwin (born after 1247, lived in 1299)
Joanna, abbess of Flines (died 1304)
Bouchard, Bishop of Metz (1251–1296)
Guy, Bishop of Utrecht (1253–1317)
William, Bishop of Cambrai (1254–1296)
Floris, stadholder of Zeeland and Prince of Achaea (1255–1297).