
Binnenhof at night

''Binnenhof'' and the Knight's Hall, the political center of The Netherlands''
The 'Binnenhof' (
Dutch, lit. "inner court"), is a collection of buildings in
The Hague. It has been the location of meetings of the
Staten-Generaal (the Dutch parliament) since
1446, and has been the centre of
Dutch politics for centuries.
The grounds on which the Binnenhof now stands was purchased by
Count Floris IV of Holland in
1229, where he built his mansion. More buildings were constructed around the court, several of which are well known in their own right, such as the Ridderzaal (
great hall; literally Knight's Hall) (pictured), where the queen holds her
annual speech. One of the towers, simply known as ''het Torentje'' (the small tower; pictured) has been the working space of the
Prime minister of the Netherlands since
1982.
The Binnenhof was also the site where statesman
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was executed in
1619.
External links
★
Extensive history of the Binnenhof (in Dutch), including many pictures
★
Virtual tour of the Binnenhof (in Dutch)
★
Aerial photo (Google Maps)