Royals &

Royals & pets and animals

Spirit of Winter Spirit of Winter
See & do/Royals, pets and animals

Temporarily open

The Stables Square is open during Spirit of Winter and Winterpaleis Het Loo from 15 December until 6 January. The palace is closed until 2021 due to renovation. The gardens are open from April until September.

14 November - 18 November

PRESENTATION CLOSED

Because of the use of the stables, the presentation of 'Royals, pets & animals' is closed and only accessible from april 2019.

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. 

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