Built in 1684 by then Stadhouder ("state holder," or governor) Willem III of the house of Oranje-Nassau, Paleis Het Loo was meant to be a gentleman's residence and lusthof or "delightful spot" in the country. Het Loo served as a Dutch royal residence until 1962, when Queen Wilhelmina left the estate to the public upon her death. After an extensive restoration it became a museum in 1984, the year of its tricentennial.
The Dutch Baroque architecture of the buildings reflects a perfect symmetry and understated design.
The Dutch Baroque architecture of the buildings reflects a perfect symmetry and understated design.