All About Royal Families

The fourth palace visit of this year also took place in The Hague. However, we could only see the Huis ten Bosch palace from the outside, because King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his family live here. The walk from the center of The Hague through the forest was very beautiful and a stark contrast to get away from the hustle and bustle of the royal city. In front of the Palace Huis ten Bosch own picture Some royal history Construction of Huis ten Bosch began on 2 September 1645, under the direction of Bartholomeus Drijffhout, based on a design by Pieter Post and Jacob van Campen.  It was commissioned by Amalia of Solms-Braunfels , the wife of stadtholder Frederick Henry, on a parcel of land granted to her by the States General (Loonstra 1983, Slothouwer 1945).  Portrait of Amalia of Solms-Braunfels Source picture: Wikipedia The first stone was laid by Elizabeth of Bohemia . Elizabeth of Bohemia Source picture: Wikipedia Over the next century and a half, the palace w...

In the heart of the city of The Hague, the Noordeinde Palace is located.  Today it still is used by the Dutch Royal family as a an office for King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. On big events just as Prinjesdag - Prince's Day - , which takes place every third Tuesday in September, the Palace of Noordeinde is the decor of the depart of the royal family and the famous balcony scene. However what's the history of this beautiful place? Some royal history The Noordeinde palace originated as a medieval farmhouse, which was converted into a spacious residence by the steward of the States of Holland, Willem van de Goudt. From 1566 to 1591, the palace had a different owner. After that it was leased, and in 1595, purchased by the States of Holland for Louise de Coligny, the widow of William of Orange, and her son Prince Frederik Hendrik. In recognition of William's service to the nation, the States presented the building to his family in 1609. Louise de Coligny Source pictur...

Kasteel Cortewalle is a Flemish moated castle in Beveren in Belgium, which was inhabited for many years by the de Brouchoven de Bergeyck family. History The castle dates from the 15th century and is one of the oldest in the Waasland. It is built in white sandstone, in the style of the Flemish Renaissance . It was expanded by Joos Vijd, who bequeathed it to his cousin Joos Triest.  Joos Vijd & Ghent Altarpiece Vijd was the third son of Clais Vijd and Amelberga van der Elst and was born in the moated castle of Singelberg. His father was a castle guardian and bailiff and moor master of Beveren, but was relieved of these functions in 1390 by Philip the Bold after an investigation into fraud and self-enrichment. The family fortune has its origins in interest on land, peat extraction and dyke tenders in the Waasland.  Around 1392, Joos married Lysbette Borluut, a patrician daughter from Ghent (she is also depicted on one of the panels). The couple lived in a Ghent city house, kn...

A visit to the Royal Palace in Madrid was definitely on the wishlist of the  Allaboutroyalfamilies blog. Finally in March 2022 a dream came true.  The Royal Palace in Madrid didn't disappoint me, on contrary, due to its splendid rooms full of royal history. History The palace was initially built by Muhammad I, Umayyad Emir of Cordoba, between 860 and 880. After the Moors were driven out of Toledo in the 11th century, the castle retained its defensive function. Henry III of Castile added several towers.  His son John II used it as a royal residence. During the War of the Castilian Succession (1476) the troops of Joanna la Beltraneja were besieged in the Alcázar, during which the building suffered severe damage. Emperor Charles V , with the architects Alonso de Covarrubias and Luis de Vega, extended and renovated the castle in 1537. Philip II made Madrid his capital in 1561 and continued the renovations, with new additions. Philip III and Philip IV added a long southern fa...

  From 5 till 8 November 2021, I was in "hellhole" Brussels to visit the Bright  Brussels festival and some museums. Quite by accident I ended up in the chapel of the Palace of Nassau.  Immediately I was fascinated by its history. Was it a part of a real royal palace? Who lived there? The painting of the Palace of Nassau Broodhuis in Brussels - own picture 2021 the chapel at the Palace of Nassau own picture 2021 History The Palace of Nassau, also called Hof van Nassau in Dutch and Hôtel de Nassau in French, was the former city palace of the Counts of Nassau located on the Coudenberg in Brussels.  The construction was started in the 14th. century. Willem van Duivenvoorde settled in Brussels. However Willem Van Duivenvoorde had twelve natural children but no legal ones, so his possessions came into the hands of the family Van Polanen. When Johanna van Polanen - the last descendant of this family - married Engelbrecht I of Nassau-Siegen in 1403, the palace came in...

After the lockdown of 2020 due to Covid-19, I was very happy to go out and about, to finally visit a real royal palace in Antwerp, Belgium. History The Royal Palace at the Meir in Antwerp was built by Johan Alexander van Susteren, a wealthy merchant in the 18th. century. It was designed by architect Jan Pieter van Baurscheidt de Jonge. In 1811, the Palace at the Meir was acquired by Napoleon Bonaparte. The French Emperor embellished the interior, inter alia the salon with green furniture in  Empire Style. Napoleon himself, never lived at the Royal Palace at the Meir in Antwerp, but his rival Tsar Alexander I of Russia stayed there during Napoleon's exile in Elba. Tsar Alexander I of Russia was the brother of Anna Pavlovna of Russia. She married King Willem (William) II of The Netherlands.  After the defeat of Waterloo in 1815, Belgium became a part of the United Kingdom of The Netherlands with King Willem (William) I as head of State. He gave the order to create the salon of t...