Permanent Collection
Het Loo Palace, in the woodland setting of Apeldoorn in the heart of the Netherlands, was the favourite summer residence of the Viceregents and the Royal Family of the Netherlands from 1686 to 1975. Since 1984 the palace has served as a museum following a significant restoration of the buildings and the gardens which returned them to their original 17th-century state. The palace, with its interiors dating from William and Mary up to the reign of Queen Wilhelmina, reflects the lifestyles of the members of the family of the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau over three centuries.
The wings, with their permanent and visiting exhibitions of historical objects, documents, paintings, china, silver, royal garments and court costumes, present a picture of the historical ties of the House of Orange-Nassau with the Netherlands.
A large collection of national and international orders and decorations is housed in the Museum of the Chancery of the Netherlands Orders of Knighthood.
The spring and summer planting of the Baroque garden parterres, surrounded by terraces, pergolas, statues and vases, is in exactly the same fashion as in the 17th century.
The Royal Stables house royal carriages, hunting carriages, sleighs and vintage court cars, including the 'wagon' in which Queen Wilhelmina went out on painting excursions.
The entire complex is surrounded by extensive woodland, dotted with lakes, and is fully open to the public.