The Gallery (#11 Called Royal Showpieces) was under construction so the next thing I have photos of is Room #14 the Bedchamber of Queen Mary II (17th century).
Mary would receive guests here after she made them wait in the antechamber. She had a marvelous bed here that she could show off.
Bed of Queen Mary II
Ceiling painting and chandelier
I also thought the ceiling was interesting. At first I thought it was copper. There was an chamber screen c 1685 which was embroidered (wool and silk) in cross stitch. You also have a good view of the garden from here (and from many of the upstairs rooms), but there was scaffolding outside the windows when we were there.
The next room (#15 the Dressing Room, Private Closet and Bookroom of Queen Mary II), was very pretty, with a fireplace and tea table. It was hung with tapestries.
Tea table and fireplace
Bob's photo of the tapestries with me on the scooter
The description said that Mary could read or drink tea from her Chinese porcelain and be undisturbed. There is a painting of her in this room (which I don't think I took a photo of) when she was 15 - the age at which she married Stadtholder Willem III, There is a Gueridon in the shape of a Moorish woman (Antwerp c 1675) by the fireplace
Around in the back of Queen Mary II's Private Closet was a very strange room which had wallpaper depicting plates on the bottom and on the top there were actual plates hung on the wall. In the 17th century it was fashionable to decorate small rooms from top to bottom with porcelain.
This set was made in the period of the Chinese emperor Kangxi for export. After that we went past #16 the Main Staircase.
I only have one photo of this, but this area was designed by Daniel Marot as a square temple in the middle of nature with wall paintings of Eastern princes leaning over the balustrades. During the reign of King Louis Napoleon the 17th century wall paintings were in poor condition and he had them plastered over. In 1902, Queen Wilhemina had them restored.
Next was the Audience Room -The floor rug is the one that Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard stood on at their wedding in the Hague. When King Willem I was at Het Loo he would hold an audience every Wednesday. Originally the Audience Room (Room #17) was the largest reception hall, so it would be held here.
King-Stadtholder Willem III would receive guests standing before his walnut armchair in front of the fireplace. Over the fireplace, the chimney breast (c1680) features the crowned cypher of King-Stadtholder Willem III and Queen Mary II.
Room 17 - Audience Chamber
The original wall paintings and hanging have been preserved.
The ceiling has been painted in such a way as to make the room seem even more imposing.
Then we went into Room #18 which was the first room in the apartments of King-Stadtholder Willem III. This room has leather wall paper which the sign says is practical because leather neutralizes unpleasant odors
Next were the rooms (19-20) of King-Stadtholder Willem III. He worked in his bedroom because he was very busy and often was ill. He suffered with fainting spells, severe colds and shortness of breath. But even when he was in good health, he would receive counselors in the bed chamber.
The bed, wall and chairs are covered with red damask which was the fashion of the time. I thought it looked a little like a bordello.
Red damask bed hangings
Mary would receive guests here after she made them wait in the antechamber. She had a marvelous bed here that she could show off.
Bed of Queen Mary II
Ceiling painting and chandelier
I also thought the ceiling was interesting. At first I thought it was copper. There was an chamber screen c 1685 which was embroidered (wool and silk) in cross stitch. You also have a good view of the garden from here (and from many of the upstairs rooms), but there was scaffolding outside the windows when we were there.
The next room (#15 the Dressing Room, Private Closet and Bookroom of Queen Mary II), was very pretty, with a fireplace and tea table. It was hung with tapestries.
Tea table and fireplace
Bob's photo of the tapestries with me on the scooter
The description said that Mary could read or drink tea from her Chinese porcelain and be undisturbed. There is a painting of her in this room (which I don't think I took a photo of) when she was 15 - the age at which she married Stadtholder Willem III, There is a Gueridon in the shape of a Moorish woman (Antwerp c 1675) by the fireplace
Around in the back of Queen Mary II's Private Closet was a very strange room which had wallpaper depicting plates on the bottom and on the top there were actual plates hung on the wall. In the 17th century it was fashionable to decorate small rooms from top to bottom with porcelain.
This set was made in the period of the Chinese emperor Kangxi for export. After that we went past #16 the Main Staircase.
I only have one photo of this, but this area was designed by Daniel Marot as a square temple in the middle of nature with wall paintings of Eastern princes leaning over the balustrades. During the reign of King Louis Napoleon the 17th century wall paintings were in poor condition and he had them plastered over. In 1902, Queen Wilhemina had them restored.
Next was the Audience Room -The floor rug is the one that Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard stood on at their wedding in the Hague. When King Willem I was at Het Loo he would hold an audience every Wednesday. Originally the Audience Room (Room #17) was the largest reception hall, so it would be held here.
King-Stadtholder Willem III would receive guests standing before his walnut armchair in front of the fireplace. Over the fireplace, the chimney breast (c1680) features the crowned cypher of King-Stadtholder Willem III and Queen Mary II.
Room 17 - Audience Chamber
The original wall paintings and hanging have been preserved.
The ceiling has been painted in such a way as to make the room seem even more imposing.
Then we went into Room #18 which was the first room in the apartments of King-Stadtholder Willem III. This room has leather wall paper which the sign says is practical because leather neutralizes unpleasant odors
Next were the rooms (19-20) of King-Stadtholder Willem III. He worked in his bedroom because he was very busy and often was ill. He suffered with fainting spells, severe colds and shortness of breath. But even when he was in good health, he would receive counselors in the bed chamber.
The bed, wall and chairs are covered with red damask which was the fashion of the time. I thought it looked a little like a bordello.
Red damask bed hangings
- Next entry in the series 'Go to Amsterdam First (1950, 1965, 2009, 2016, 2018, 2022)': Het Loo Palace #4
- Previous entry in the series 'Go to Amsterdam First (1950, 1965, 2009, 2016, 2018, 2022)': Het Loo Palace #2
