A Regal Experience at Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

I was feeling rather spontaneous, got on a train and travelled from The Hague in The Netherlands to a place called Apeldoorn a few hours away in the direction of the German border. A train and bus trip later, I arrived at what I consider the most beautiful palace in the country.

The Het Loo Palace was built in the 1600s for King William the third and Mary the second of England. The original architectural plans for the palace were in fact much grander than the building actually turned out to be. However, despite this, the palace is still by far the most magnificent site I’ve seen while living in the country.

In the 17th century, Het Loo Palace was occupied by the House of Orange-Nassau until Queen Wilhelmina’s death in 1962. The building was later renovated and in 1984 it was transformed into a state museum. The original furniture, paintings and interior of the House of Orange-Nassau are still present. And no two rooms are alike. In fact, every room has something different and unique to offer.

Walk through elaborately decorated bedrooms, waiting rooms, reading rooms, children’s rooms, libraries and soak up the splendor and grandeur of the time.

You’ll even see some classic clothing and fashion from those times and…perhaps something a bit over-the-top and unfortunately not so pleasant if you’re an animal lover.

However, the beauty of the place lies in the fact that from nearly every window you can catch a glimpse of Het Loo Palace’s immaculate garden, fountains and ponds. These gardens once held a menagerie of exotic animals such as monkeys and elephants imported from Africa and Asia.

I loved exploring the gardens and just admiring the perfection, dedication and time spent to make them so breathtaking. I recommend finding a spot in the sun and listening to the soothing sounds of water running and birds tweeting. The garden is an excellent choice for a sunny day, a good book and a bit of R&R. Plus, there is a lovely, fancy cafe where you can sit. There is also another more informal cafe (where you can buy a drink or snack to take away) but this is outside the actual palace and garden and is near the ticket office and main museum entrance.

Another plus when visiting Het Loo Palace is that there are often interesting exhibitions held there. I was lucky enough to view the Grace Kelly exhibition while I was visiting. I saw the most beautiful dresses worn by Grace Kelly on display and learnt about her life story and marriage to Prince Ranier of Monaco. Grace was a true style icon and lady of class and sophistication and this really comes across in this excellent exhibition. There is also a permanent classic car exhibition in the stables of Het Loo Palace.

If you’re in need of something a little different – an attraction away from the city – and want to experience the Dutch Golden age as it truly was, then I highly recommend Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn for an exciting, regal and rich experience!