Noordeinde Palace, The Hague, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

Noordeinde Palace is a working palace of the Dutch king in the centre of The Hague. Its calm facade sits on one of the city's most elegant streets, and its gate carries the national motto, "Je maintiendrai". It is an easy stop on any walk through the old town.

The story behind it

The palace began as a far more modest building in the 16th century and grew over the following centuries into the royal residence you see today. Today it serves as the king's working palace, where official business is carried out. The royal family does not generally open it to visitors.

The crest on the gate carries the words "Je maintiendrai", French for "I will maintain" (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven). It is the official motto of the Netherlands and was used by members of the House of Orange-Nassau long before it became the national motto in the early 19th century. During the Second World War, a Dutch resistance newspaper took the same name, which gave the old motto a second meaning of defiance.

What to look for

• The crest on the palace gate, with its inscription "Je maintiendrai", which is the motto of the Netherlands.
• The royal flag above the building, which is traditionally flown when the king is present at the palace.
• The long, symmetrical facade, which is restrained and elegant rather than showy, and is best seen from across the street.
• The street itself, Noordeinde, lined with antique shops, galleries and cafes that give the palace a lively setting.

Tips for your visit

• Plan on 10 to 20 minutes for the palace itself, longer if you wander the shops and galleries along the street.
• The palace is not open as a museum, so most visitors admire it from the street. Check current opening hours and access for the palace garden before you go.
• Early morning or late afternoon gives softer light and fewer people for photos of the facade.
• The palace is close to the Binnenhof and the centre of The Hague, so it pairs well with a walk around the old town.

See it on a quest

The palace is one stop on Hague: The Heart of The Old Town, a self-guided walk through the old centre. You reach the palace on foot as part of a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.