Throughout the ages, ‘Het Binnenhof’ in The Hague has always been the centre of politics in the Netherlands, the place where affairs of state were discussed. Not only are the buildings themselves well worth seeing, but it was here that the most important events in Dutch history took place. Parliament still meets here, and thus the Binnenhof remains the centre of Dutch political life today. 

Parliamentary Exhibition

An exhibition has been opened in the reception area underneath the Ridderzaal (the ‘Knights’ Hall’), where the guided tours start, dedicated to Dutch parliamentary history. There is a scale model of the Binnenhof, a time line providing a chronological overview of political history of the Low Lands over the past twelve centuries, and a number of gravestones that were found when the former royal chapel at the Binnenhof was pulled down.

The Ridderzaal

The centre of the Binnenhof was – and undoubtedly still is – the Knights’ Hall or ‘Ridderzaal’, built by Count Floris V in the 13th century. After an introductory video about Dutch parliament and the parliamentary buildings, the guided tours will take visitors to the Ridderzaal and to the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament, which are called the ‘Eerste Kamer’ and ‘Tweede Kamer’ respectively. Sometimes one or more of the buildings may be closed to the public on account of special meetings.