Huis ten Bosch Palace



This attractive 17th-century palace is called the “House in the Woods” and has been the residence for successive generations of Dutch royals.

Take a walk through the forest north of central The Hague and stop to admire Paleis Huis ten Bosch, which translates to “Palace House in the Woods.” The palace is still in use, so see if you can spot one of the members of the Dutch royal family in the garden! Huis ten Bosch Palace is also the location for ceremonies of state importance. Visit on one of those days to see how many Dutch people love their “House of Orange,” as the royal family is called.

Huis ten Bosch Palace was the home of Queen Beatrix from 1981 to 2013, but when she stepped down she announced a move to a palace in Lage Vuursche to make room for her eldest son Willem-Alexander. In 2013 he became the first Dutch king in more than a century.

Construction began on the Huis ten Bosch Palace in 1645. It was Prince Frederik Hendrik’s gift to his wife Amalia van Solms. The prominent architects Pieter Post and Jacob van Campen designed the building. It was once the residence of Napoleon’s brother, King Louis Bonaparte, when the French ruled the Netherlands in the early 19th century. 

Huis ten Bosch was bombed during World War II, but the royal family had already fled the country by then. The stately building was fully restored. 

The palace is not open to the public but you can walk along the path that runs around the perimeter of the grounds. Peek through the front and back gates to see the classical, Italian-influenced architecture and the octagonal cupola on the roof. Manicured lawns, a tree-lined driveway and a lake are all features of this royal residence. Note how the jets of the fountain line up perfectly with the front door.

The Huis ten Bosch Palace is located in Het Haagse Bos (The Forest of The Hague). You can take a bus from the city centre to the palace, which is 7 miles (12 kilometres) north.

Popular places to visit


Top Huis ten Bosch Palace Hotel Deals

Townhouse Den Haag
Townhouse Den Haag
3.5 out of 5
Bleijenburg 1, The Hague
Townhouse Den Haag
Van der Valk Hotel Den Haag Wassenaar
Van der Valk Hotel Den Haag Wassenaar
4.5 out of 5
Zijdeweg 54, Wassenaar
Van der Valk Hotel Den Haag Wassenaar
Babylon Hotel Den Haag
Babylon Hotel Den Haag
4.5 out of 5
Bezuidenhoutseweg 53, The Hague
Babylon Hotel Den Haag
PLAZA Premium Den Haag City Center
PLAZA Premium Den Haag City Center
3.5 out of 5
Grote Marktstraat 36-40, The Hague
PLAZA Premium Den Haag City Center
The Hague Teleport Hotel
The Hague Teleport Hotel
3 out of 5
Binckhorstlaan 131, The Hague
The Hague Teleport Hotel
voco The Hague by IHG
voco The Hague by IHG
4 out of 5
Kneuterdijk 8, The Hague
voco The Hague by IHG
The Hague Marriott Hotel
The Hague Marriott Hotel
4 out of 5
Johan De Wittlaan 30, The Hague
The Hague Marriott Hotel
NH Den Haag
NH Den Haag
4.5 out of 5
Prinses Margriet Plantsoen 100, The Hague
NH Den Haag
Park Centraal Den Haag, part of Sircle Collection
Park Centraal Den Haag, part of Sircle Collection
4 out of 5
Molenstraat 53, The Hague
Park Centraal Den Haag, part of Sircle Collection
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

* Savings based on package bookings compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings not available on all packages. Book Flight + Lodging, save up to 100% of flight price - Savings based on flight + lodging package prices as compared to the price of the same components available for booking separately before all discounts and rewards applied. Your bundled savings cover up to 100% of your flight. Savings vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and travel suppliers. Savings not available on all flight + lodging package bookings.