Noordeinde Palace, with its ornately landscaped garden, is located on Noordeinde, one of The Hague's most elegant shopping streets. This is where King Willem-Alexander works. When he is in the country, the flag flies on the palace.
Royal family
Noordeinde Palace, with its ornately landscaped garden, is located on Noordeinde, one of The Hague's most elegant shopping streets. Noordeinde Palace has been the centre of important events in the lives of the royal family.
For instance, Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard and Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien married from this palace. Wilhelmina and Juliana were born there. After their deaths, Queen Juliana (2004) and Princes Hendrik (1934), Claus (2002) and Bernhard (2004) were laid to rest here. Both King Willem III, his second wife Queen Mother Emma and Queen Wilhelmina lived at Noordeinde Palace. Today, King Willem-Alexander works here. When he is in the country, the flag, the royal standard, flies on the palace.
Royal ceremony on Wednesday mornings
On Wednesday mornings, HM King Willem-Alexander regularly welcomes new ambassadors who come to present their letters of credence at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. The new ambassador arrives by state coach early in the morning, escorted by horsemen from the Royal Netherlands Mounted Police.
After an honorary salute of four drumrolls, the national anthem of the ambassador's country is played, followed by an inspection of the guard. Inside, the King awaits the new ambassador. Outside the palace, you can watch the arrival of the coach, listen to the national anthem being played and follow the inspection of the guard - always a special moment in the royal city of The Hague.
Noordeinde Palace summer opening
Noordeinde Palace, together with the Royal Stable Department, is opened to the public for several days every summer. The palace is not normally open for personal viewing as it is King Willem-Alexander's working palace.
The limited space and daily use of the building as a reception area and office make it unsuitable for receiving visitors. The exclusive summer opening therefore offers a unique opportunity to visit this special building in the court city.
Palace Garden
The Palace Garden is located behind Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, next to the Royal Stables. The garden is open to the public daily. Frederik Hendrik, the son of William of Orange, had the gardens landscaped for his mother at the beginning of the seventeenth century. Known in those days as the 'Princesses' Garden', the park was full of romantic flowerbeds, ponds, fountains and marble statues.
The garden was given to the Municipality of The Hague in the twentieth century and it is now a normal park by Dutch standards, as well as a great place to picnic on summer days. Bask in this wonderfully regal setting for a while, sandwiched between the Royal Stables, the working Noordeinde Palace and the Royal Archives.
Noordeinde shopping area
The chic Noordeinde district of Willem-Alexander's working palace is primarily known for its distinctive fashion boutiques, galleries and art and antiques dealers located in beautiful art nouveau buildings. Jewellers, antique dealers and galleries are interspersed with coffee cafés and restaurants, which makes Noordeinde worth visiting for anyone.
Accessibility
Noordeinde is easily accessible by car, tram and bicycle. There are many parking options in the area. The nearest car parks are parking Noordeinde in Heulstraat, parking garage Parkstraat in Oranjestraat and the Hilton hotel car park. There is a free Biesieklette and from The Hague Central Station you can walk to Het Noordeinde in 15 minutes. Several trams also stop at the Kneuterdijk stop. The rest of The Hague city centre is also easy to reach from Het Noordeinde.
