Europe Trip Day 7 (Paleis het Loo)

It's been spring weather ever since we arrived in the Netherlands with the sun darting in and out of the clouds, each time taking us alternately from a little cool, to lovely sunny and warm, then back to cool every five minutes or so.
We have been rather fortunate though to avoid the rain, which we only caught one afternoon of. As far as

spring weather goes this has been about as good as one can ask for.
Our trip to the 16th Century palace, Paleis het Loo, fit this pattern of weather. But with spring weather comes spring flowers, and oh, what flowers they are! The gardens were resplendent with gloriously colored tulips and daisies. The garden's perfectly manicured hedges are the quintessential image of a European Palace.
Paleis het Loo served as the Royal Palace for the House Van Oranje for five centuries and is a spectacular reminder of the economic might of the Dutch merchant fleet going back hundreds of years.

The Dutch Monarchy recently experienced a change in succession as the much loved Queen Beatrix abdicated her throne to her son, the newly crowned King Wilem and his wife Queen Maxima.
Inside, the Paleis het Loo is broken into a seemingly endless procession of rooms designed and decorated for specific members of the Royal Family going back to the 1500's.
One such room was Prince Hendrik's Hunting Room. Prince Hendrik (1876-1934) was the consort of Queen Wilhelmina (1880-1962). The hunting room was filled from floor to ceiling with skulls, antlers and various other hunting trophies.

Another amazing room was the sitting room for Mary II Queen of Great-Britain and Ireland, Princess of Oranje. The room is done in an eye popping sapphire blue and gold. Most of the rooms in the palace were bedecked with beautiful Delft porcelain.
I'm so glad that we made this amazing stop to see these beautiful and historically sygnificant residence. Long live the King!