Learning the historical context of the first occupants of Paleis Het Loo enhances your visit. The summer palace was commissioned by William III, commonly called William of Orange. He became the Prince of Orange in 1650 a week before his birth when his father, William II, died of smallpox. In 1677, while William was stadtholder (steward) of Holland, he married the 15 year old daughter of future King James II of England. In 1688, the pair overthrew her father in the Glorious Revolution. The victor then became William III, the king of England, Scotland and Ireland while she simultaneously became Queen Mary II. The couple’s shared reign over Britain is commonly called the William and Mary Period. Their joint taste for furnishings by Dutch artisans with French accents led to the William and Mary style of furniture from 1689 until the death of William III in 1702. You will see many examples of this furniture while touring about 40 rooms of their former royal palace.
