The royal castle of Balmoral, situated in Ballater, Scotland (United Kingdom) announced that the grounds, gardens and exhibitions reopened to the public on 1 April 2023. Balmoral will be open until Wednesday 16 August 2023. Also its first exhibition “Monarchs at Balmoral” will go on display in 2023, showing photographs of the British royal family …
The Sun King and the Prince of Orange
History comes to life! From 10 June 2023 to 7 January 2024 the exhibition Battle for the Meuse Valley. The Sun King and the Prince of Orange can be seen at the Limburgs Museum in Venlo. In June 1673 King Louis XIV of the French, also known as the Sun King, managed to conquer the …
2023 Opening – Royal Greenhouses in Laeken
Each year, in the spring, the Royal Greenhouses in Laeken are opened to the public, during almost three weeks. This tradition has been carried on for a century. In 2023 the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken are open to the public from 14 April until 7 May (closed on Mondays). You will be able to choose …
The Queen and her Corgis
From 8 March 2023 to 25 June 2023 the Wallace Collection in London has a special one-room display called “The Queen and her Corgis”, showing photographs of the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and her beloved Pembroke Welsh corgis. She owned over thirty of these dogs throughout her life. Each decade of …
The King’s watercolours at Sandringham
On 1 April 2023 the Sandringham Estate opens its doors again. Until 12 October 2023 a collection of watercolours painted by King Charles III of the United Kingdom, when still Prince of Wales, is going on display in the Ballroom at Sandringham House Shown are over 40 watercolours of British geographic landscapes and royal residences, …
Landpartie 2023 at Bückeburg
From 8 to 11 June 2023 the yearly Landpartie is once again being held in and around the Bückeburg Palace in Bückeburg, Germany. This year the theme is “Gartensymphonie” (Garden Symphony), which reflects the combination of garden happiness and culinary delights. I have never been to the Landpartie, but it seems to come rather close …
Flying like a royal
DDA Classic Airlines as of April 2023 once again offers sightseeing flights in the historical Douglas DC-3 Dakota airplane called “Prinses Amalia” at weekends. The flights will be organized for at least three months, or longer if there is enough money available. Scenic flights to the Dutch tulip fields, the Dutch coast, the Muiderslot, Dutch …
The Year of Napoléon III 2023
On 9 January it was 150 years ago that Emperor Napoléon III of the French died. He ruled France as its first president 1848-1852 and as Emperor 1852-1870. 2023 is considered the Year of Napoléon III. As part of the commemorations key events this year intend to bring together the initiatives of associations, foundations, event …
2023 Visits to the Kneuterdijk Palace
There is one palace in The Hague, The Netherlands, that I really would like to visit one day. There are however only a few days a year that it is open, on Fridays. As I don’t live close and it is a weekday, it is really difficult to plan. Even more: tickets are usually sold …
Royal embroidery – An exhibition in Tilburg
At the TextielMuseum in Tilburg, The Netherlands, from 1 December 2022 til 29 May 2023 the exhibition Koninklijk borduren – verhalen en vakmanschap (Royal embroidery – stitches and stories) can be seen. It is a one-off chance to see both the historical and new curtains for the Chinese Room of Palace Huis ten Bosch in …