The ProDemos Visitor Centre organises guided tours of the Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights), the Dutch Senate and House of Representatives. In addition, you can turn to the Visitor Centre for guided and self-guided tours of political The Hague.
The Binnenhof (Inner Court) is a square in The Hague city centre. At its centre, one finds the Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights) and the square is lined by parliament buildings and government buildings. The square forms the very heart of Dutch government.
This is where the House of Representatives meets, where the Prime Minister works and where the Ministers hold their weekly consultations. Once a year, the Senate and the House of Representatives meet in the Ridderzaal in a Joint Session of the States General. This session takes place on the third Tuesday of September, i.e. ‘Prinsjesdag’, on which day the Dutch head of state presents the government’s plans for the coming year in the ‘Speech from the Throne’.
Foto: Roel Wijnants
The oldest buildings at the Binnenhof were built in the early thirteenth century and so have seen quite a few residents come and go. From counts, Stadtholders and Louis Napoleon to the Reichskommissar Seyss-Inquart during the German occupation of the Netherlands.
ProDemos’ Visitor Centre can take you on a tour of the buildings that surround the Binnenhof, or on a politically or historically themed walk around The Hague’s city centre.
See also:
Read information about the buildings of the Binnenhof, in
A publication about the history of the Binnenhof and its governmental buildings, such as the First and Second Chamber, the Hall of Knights and many other historic places. The booklet is available at the Prodemos Visitors Centre for € 2,50, but can also be ordered by sending an email to bestel@prodemos.nl.
If you prefer to read it online, please download the pdf file: The Binnenhof.
This publication is also available in:
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ProDemos – House for Democracy and the Rule of Law
Hofweg 1-H
2511 AA The Hague
T: +31 (0)70 7504646
E: info@ProDemos.nl
