Koning unveils restored Glass Carriage in Louwman Museum
His Majesty the King unveiled the restored Glass Carriage on Monday 16 March in the Louwman Museum in The Hague. With the unveiling, the King opens an exhibition about the restoration of the carriage, which, after two years of historical research, lasted five years. The Glass Carriage is exhibited as part of the celebration of the 200 year Kingdom. On 16 March, the day that the exhibition is officially opened, it is 200 years ago that William I accepted the kingship.
The 'Glass Carriage' is the oldest carriage in the Royal Stable Department. The coach owes its 'baptismal name' for its large number of windows, 'glasses', and protective glass on the door panels. The carriage is inextricably linked to King Willem I, the first Dutch king from the House of Orange-Nassau. It was Willem I who commissioned the construction in 1821, for which he turned to P. Simons, a renowned coach builder in Brussels.
Simons supplied the Glass Carriage in 1826 in the three national colors: red, white and blue. The only other color that appears further on the carriage is 'gold'. In Latin the names for gold and orange are close together. The coach therefore represents a moving orange, red, white and blue color symbol.
The pride of the Royal Stables is only used on special occasions. For example, the coach could be seen at the wedding of Queen Wilhelmina to Prince Hendrik (1901), the wedding of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard (1936) and the wedding of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus (1966). From 1849 to 1907, the Glass Carriage was used to mark the opening of the States General.
From 17 March to 21 June 2015, the Glass Carriage of the Royal Stable Department can be seen in the Louwman Museum in The Hague.
For opening hours and admission prices, see www.louwmanmuseum.nl
... for those with a moderate interest, there is a lot more to see in the museum. Such as De Groene Koets, one of Prince Bernhard's toys ...