Royals & pets and animals

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Open until 30 September

The stables and palace gardens are open. You need a timeslot ticket due to covid-19 measures. Tickets are available in our ticketshop (Dutch only). The palace and rooftop are closed until 2021 due to renovation.

1 June - 30 September

From lap-dog to elephant... The exhibition ‘Royals, Pets and Animals’, illustrates, with photos, prints and surprising stories, the special bond between the royals and their animals. Various activities and events are being organised in the gardens, stables and on the front square. 

koetshuizen stallenplein_Paleis Het Loo
Stallenplein. Foto Paleis Het Loo (2)_LR
paarden in de stal _ Paleis Het Loo

The Orange Family

Animals have always played an important role in the life of the Oranje family. King-stadholder Willem III, who had Paleis Het Loo built, owned eighty hunting dogs. Stadholder Willem V had his own zoo at Het Loo, with exotic animals, including two elephants, and when Queen Wilhelmina was a child, she looked after several animals in her play house. She was extremely fond of her four ponies, her donkey and Swell, her dog.

Royal Horses

Horses of the Royal Stable Department regularly spend some time in the stables at Het Loo and Benito, the favourite mount of Princess Beatrix, is enjoying his retirement in the palace stables and the meadows near Castle Het Oude Loo.

 

Royals, pets and animalsen
Dieren van OranjenlTiere der Oranierde
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