Het Loo Palace - definitely worth visiting if you're Orange and ever in Holland!
On hearing i was returning to holland for a visit a former Grand Secretary strongly suggested I should not miss out on the Royal Palace of Het Loo on the outskirts of a pretty little town called Apeldoran. When I got there, I realised what a mistake I had made not being there previously! It was a lovely summer's day and the gardens were at their best.
Set in a wooded estate, Het Loo is a beautiful building. The furniture and paintings are of Willam Prince of Orange's time before he came here for the glorious Revolution of 1688. Donning my collarette and tie, I had two different palace attendants take my pcture on the roof overlooking the gardens, in the gardens and at the front gate. The first picture is looking towards the Royal Mews.
One wing is completely filled with Royal decorations, sahes, medals, etc from around the world. One odd feature was the regalia from countries which at the time were Communist but their decorations a mirror of Royal artefacts!
I would recommend that if you are ever in the Netherlands to take the train from Amsterdam (hourly service and takes an hour) and visit Het Loo. The bus station is right next the rail station (which has a cafe). It is my intention to return to Holland inthe summer and again visit the place that our great Protestant Champion of Europe grew up in. A nice postscript is that Het loo was the favourite place of the present Dutch Monarch.
1ST ROW L - R:
(1) The Royal Mews. (2) Front of Palace. (3) the tremendous gardens and fountain at the rear. (4) On the roof-good view of gardens etc. (5) Main door.
2ND ROW L - R:
(1) Gardens/fountain. (2) Gardens looking at rear of Palace. (3) Fountain & colonade. (4) Tea in sumptious surroundings. (5) front Gate.
HAVE YOUR LODGE NEWS HERE TOO!
THIS PAGE WILL BE REVIEWED SHORTLY TO GIVE DETAILS OF THE 2008 PARADE ON 5TH JULY 2008
