Window to the world: king’s horses get rooms with a view

Animal welfare has trumped strict building protection rules at a royal palace in The Hague for the first time, with a new stable design offering horses a window to the world.

At the Noordeinde palace – famous for its ceremonial role in the Dutch budget day in September – visitors can see the new stable design for the first time while the king is on holiday.

The palace and stables open to the public today until August 4, with slots for 43,000 visitors, including children.

At a press opening on Tuesday, crown equerry Lieuitenant Colonal Hans Veenhuijzen, said that the stables are being restored and – although some original elements such as raised, brick floors are returning – animal welfare has a new emphasis.

“Animal welfare comes first with us,” he said. “One of the things we are doing is making every horse a window to look outside and more room…In the past, this was a difficult subject, because the stables are a grade A listed building. So it was rather tricky to make a hole in it for a window, but today, animal welfare is a more important item than monument protection.”

One pilot stable has been fitted out as it should be, he said, with more space for the horse and alongside a rooftop window, a low window to the world so that the horse can choose to look outside.

This is important for a horse’s psychology, he added. “He has fresh air, he can see nature, he can segregate himself from people, draw into himself – this is a very important thing for animal welfare.”

The stables, once housed 100 horses, formerly the main mode of transport for the royal family Alongside a smaller collection of Frisian and Gelderlander horses, it now also has several historic cars and coaches – including the “golden coach”, retired by king Willem-Alexander for its depiction of former Dutch colonies.

In recent years, the golden coach sparked protests around racism when it was used on Prinsjesdag budget day, and so the “glass coach” will be used on September 17. Both coaches are currently on display at the palace and stables, where there is a new “multimedia” tour for children to encourage interest in the royals and their history.

Royal September

Concerned by plummeting audiences for the ceremonial budget day of hat-wearing, the Senate yesterday announced that this year there will be a new focus on inclusion, alongside the public Prinsjesfestival celebrating democracy from September 11 to 17.

The month is also being branded “Royal September”, with various openings and events to promote The Hague’s royal assets, such as the royal family’s ceremonial and functional buildings.