Palace park

 The palace park is part of Het Loo Royal Estate and lies adjacent to Het Loo Palace. It is open all year and with 650 hectare it is ideal for strolling and walking. Traditionally this park was for the relaxation of the royal residents of Het Loo and their guests. The origins of the palace park can be traced back to stadtholder Willem II, who purchased hunting lodge Het Loo in 1684 together with 200 hectare land. (more info from the palace's website HERE)

We followed the orange trail, which is one of eight walking trails in the park.

I´m linking to Weekend Reflections.

Chapeaux!

One of the things we enjoyed during our visit to Het Loo Palace was the temporary exhibition 'Chapeaux! Hats of Queen Beatrix'. She was our queen for 33 years -from 1980 to 2013- and she always wore a hat at special occasions like state visits, receptions, openings and ceremonies. It wasn't allowed to photograph at the exhibition so I can't show anything, but some of the hats that were exhibited can be viewed on the palace's website HERE.

The red hat on the photo is a delicious piece of pastry that we treated ourselves to after a walk in the palace park, together with a cappuccino. Doesn't it have a royal look?  :))

Looking up

My husband took this photo from one of the many chandeliers inside Het Loo Palace.

Inside Het Loo Palace

Since 1984, after a thorough restoration, the former royal palace Het Loo has been open to the public. The furnished rooms and chambers have all you would expect to see in a palace: high ceilings, thick carpets, sculptures, paintings... 

...and beautifully decorated ceilings like this one.
The last residents of the palace were Princess Margriet and Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven. Together with their 4 sons they lived in the East Wing from 1967 to 1975.

From January 2018 the palace is going to be renovated again, for essential maintenance. I´m glad we were able to visit it now, as the museum buildings will be closed until 2021.

Silver Sleigh

 Another exibited item at Paleis Het Loo was this Silver Sleigh, constructed in 1885.
"The Silver Sleigh was mainly used by Queen Wilhelmina for trips through Het Loo Royal Estate, often accompanied by het mother Queen Emma. She generally took the reins herself. The coachman sat on the driving seat at the rear; he operated the ice-scrapers..

..The metal runners converge in the front into crowned griffin heads. The mesh metal screen protected the passengers from any snow flying up around them. The upholstery was made of hand-woven rugs. A fur throw kept the passengers warm." (info from Paleis Het Loo)

This last photo, that was placed next to the sleigh, was taken during a rare demonstration of the Royal Stables Department around Het Loo in 2009.

I´m linking to All Seasons.

Austin 135 Sheerline Princess II

In the coach-houses belonging to Het Loo Palace, a number of royal carriages, cars and sleighs was presented, and all of them treasures!

"This luxurious and representative court car was made at the orders of the royal family. The Austin Sheerline is a composite car: chassis and engine are from the British Austin factory, the body-work was built by Pennock & Son in The Hague. Construction date is 1950-1952.
The "waving car" was frequently used for official visits. In 1955, the Austin Sheerline was used for the visit of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard to the Dutch Antilles. Three years later it was used again, this time for the visit of Princess Beatrix to Surinam." (info from Paleis Het Loo)

Getting wet..

Detail of a fountain in the garden of Paleis Het Loo. Het Loo Palace, meaning 'The Woods Palace', is located in Apeldoorn. The former royal palace is now a state museum, but more about that later.