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© Arjan de Jager via The Hague & Partners
Category:The Hague

Huis ten Bosch Palace

Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague is the residence of King Willem-Alexander and his family. Because they live in the palace, it is sadly not accessible to the public. If you go for a walk through the Haagse Bos forest, however, you can see the palace from a distance and, if you are very lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of one of the members of the Dutch Royal Family.

  • See the residence of King Willem-Alexander.
  • Go for a walk through the Haagse Bos.
  • This palace was built as early as 1645.

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History of Huis ten Bosch Palace

In 1645, Prince Frederick Henry (Frederik Hendrik in Dutch) commissioned the construction of Huis ten Bosch Palace. It was to become a summer residence for him and his wife, Princess Amalia. Huis ten Bosch Palace remained the property of various princes until it was nationalised during the period of French domination between 1795 and 1813. From the proclamation of William I as King of the Netherlands in 1815, the palace was occasionally inhabited by members of the Dutch Royal Family. During World War II, it was heavily damaged, but two thorough renovations made it fit to live in again. Princess Beatrix, Prince Claus and their children moved into the palace in 1981.

Functions of Huis ten Bosch Palace

The primary function of the palace is to act as the residence of the royal family. A wing of the palace, however, has been fitted out as a guest accommodation and is suitable for representative purposes. Dutch medallists at Olympic Games or the new government where, true to tradition, presented with the king on the steps of Huis ten Bosch Palace.

While Huis ten Bosch Palace is not open to the public, you can see it when driving on the Bezuidenhoutseweg road or walking through the Haagse Bos forest.

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