Royal Spring in The Hague

Royal Tour 

In and around the city you will find many royal sights. While walking you will pass many unique monuments, living and working palaces and sometimes a beautiful carriage suddenly drives by. Discover the royal locations and learn more about them with the Royal Tour, a royal walking tour with audio and video clips. Walk past the many palaces, the beautiful palace gardens and be enchanted by the images and stories from our royal history.

Have you ever noticed the little crowns on the lampposts? You will find them along the route of the glass carriage that runs from the Royal Stables through the Inner Court to the Lange Voorhout to Palace Noordeinde, be sure to try to spot them! There is also a royal wheelchair route, accessible for people with wheelchairs, strollers or anyone who needs it.

Royal traditions in focus: Letters of credence

The more than 200-year-old tradition of the letters of credence ceremony can now be discovered in greater detail in the showcase exhibition Royal Traditions in Focus: Letters of Credence at Noordeinde 64. This exhibition features special objects from the Royal Collections, including a replica of the letter of credence that George Washington presented to Stadtholder William V and the ceremonial uniform of the king's adjutant. Flags and photographs further bring the ceremony to life.

The Royal Collections manage the heritage of the House of Orange-Nassau and are celebrating their 200th anniversary this year. Thanks to this exhibition, you get a unique insight into one of the most formal and historical royal traditions in the Netherlands.

Ceremony

During the arrival of a new ambassador at Noordeinde Palace, national anthems echo through the square, while the military guard of honor offers a salute. During the ceremony at the palace, the ambassador presents two letters to the king, the first stating that the previous ambassador has been recalled and the second authorizing the next ambassador. This impressive ritual, which reaffirms the cooperation between the two countries, can be partially followed from the palace square. 

King’s Day

26 April is the day, we celebrate King’s Day in The Hague! Scattered around the city you will find cosy free markets where you can walk around, chat and eat. For instance in the Frederik Hendriklaan in the Statenkwartier or the Plein in the city centre. Or visit the National Geranium Market on Lange Voorhout. Fancy something different? Celebrate the king with a King’s Day cruise through the canals of The Hague, or go wild and visit the Oranjeroes Festival in the Zuiderpark.

King’s Night 

On Kings Night, the night before Kings Day, the city is transformed into a true open-air theatre. The evening is traditionally dedicated to the festival The Life I Live. A wonderful free music festival with more than 40 acts spread across the city.

Royal Waiting Room

Did you know that a beautiful royal waiting room is hidden at Hollands Spoor train station? It opened in 1893, during the time of Princess Wilhelmina and Queen Regent Emma. In those days, there were not two classes in the trains themselves; waiting was also strictly divided. There were waiting rooms for first class, second class, third class and at the very top the royal waiting room. The royal family had several waiting rooms around the country, of which the ones in The Hague, Baarn and Amsterdam remain.

The entrance to the waiting room is to the left of the Hollands Spoor entrance at Stationsplein. The space is large and generously decorated with art and special architecture. A marble staircase, stained-glass windows and everything covered head to toe in gold. In the rooms, you will find various paintings of arms of provinces and paintings on virtues. There is even a private toilet room.

Visit the waiting room 

This royal spring, the royal waiting room at Hollands Spoor will be temporarily opened. Led by a guide, discover this unique glimpse into the royal family. The tours are from Sunday 27 April to Sunday 29 June and last 30 minutes each