Koninklijke Stallen (Royal Stables), Hague

The Royal Stables (Koninklijke Stallen) is a versatile structure located next to the Noordeinde Palace and the Palace Garden. Designed by Dutch architect Hugo Pieter Vogel, this four-wing complex showcases an eclectic Renaissance style. It encloses a rectangular courtyard covered with paving stones and was constructed between 1876 and 1879, occupying part of the Palace Garden's space.

The building is strategically set slightly back from the main road to allow carriages to easily enter and exit. The central part of the façade is adorned with a semicircular pediment featuring the coat of arms of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Above this, there's an elevated roof culminating in a needle spire. The corner pavilions also have round pediments, each adorned with a horse head medallion.

Inside the Royal Stables, you'll find horses and carriages belonging to the royal family, including the famous Golden Coach, which has been housed here since 1898. The facility also stores court cars and the Irish half-breed Wexy, a horse owned by the future King William II, who was wounded during the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and preserved through taxidermy.

During the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940, there were 52 horses in the stables. In the summer of that year, 34 horses were sold to prevent their confiscation by German occupying forces. The proceeds from these sales were used to feed the remaining horses and maintain the stables during the war years.

The old palace stables are currently not being used by the royal family, as they are currently residing at Huis ten Bosch in The Hague. These stables have been converted into a museum or event space, where visitors can see exhibitions showcasing the former stables and transportation used by the royal family.