Carriages
Most royal carriages are on display at Het Loo Palace National Museum in Apeldoorn. But the Royal Stables also houses a number of coaches belonging to the special collection.
- Golden Coach
The Golden Coach was presented to Queen Wilhelmina on the occasion of her investiture in 1898, as a tribute by the people of Amsterdam. The coach was designed by the firm of Spijker Brothers.
On their wedding day, 7 February 1901, Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik rode in the Golden Coach for the first time. Since 1903, the head of state generally rides in the Golden Coach just once a year, on Prinsjesdag.
The Golden Coach was also used for the marriages of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard (1937), Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus (1966), Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima (2002), and for the baptism of Princess Beatrix in 1938.
The name Golden Coach is misleading since the wood is only partially gilded; the rest of it is painted. The carriage was built in Dutch Renaissance style and is decorated with symbolic motifs. The coach is drawn by eight horses.
- Glass Coach
The Glass Coach was built for King William I in 1826 by P. Simons of Brussels. It is a simple, dark blue coach with a wide gold border of laurel and oak leaves. The coach’s seven windows have cut-glass plates. The coach owes its name to the layer of glass protecting its ornamental border.
The Glass Coach is reserved for special occasions. It was used for the wedding of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard and for that of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus.
- Cream Calèche
Built by the Hague-based firm Hermans, the Cream Calèche was a gift from Queen Emma to her daughter Wilhelmina.
The Calèche is ivory-coloured and adorned with gold oak leaves. The coach sports two groups of gilded figures representing the Graces, along with a gold royal crown, a laurel wreath and a palm of victory. The Cream Calèche is drawn by six horses and driven by two postillions, one at the front left and one at the back left of the carriage.
Queen Emma felt that the carriage should be reserved for special family occasions. The carriage was used for Queen Juliana’s investiture (1948) and that of Queen Beatrix (1980).
- State Berlins
The Royal Stables has a fleet of six state berlins. The name comes from the German city, where the carriages were first built in 1662. A berlin is a covered carriage which can seat four people. The carriages are painted black and burgundy and can be drawn by two or four horses.
The state berlins are used regularly, for example by foreign ambassadors when presenting their credentials to the Queen at Noordeinde Palace.
The Glass State Berlin was built by Pearce & Co. in London in 1836 for the future King Willem II. The Glass State Berlin is the oldest royal berlin. Princess Margriet and Pieter van Vollenhoven used it for their marriage. Ever since, the couple have travelled to the annual opening of Parliament in that carriage.
The carriages are generally maintained by the stable’s own staff. For this purpose the Royal Stables has a team of specially trained craftsmen, including a saddle-maker, a carriage painter and an overseer in charge of the trappings.