Welcome to the Palace Garden in The Hague, a peaceful green retreat located behind Noordeinde Palace. Established in the 17th century, it has long been cherished by both the royal family and the public. Amid the elegant trees, vibrant flowers, and ornate fountains lies a fascinating piece of history.
In 1783, when it was still known as the Princess Garden, a milestone in Dutch aviation occurred here. Engineer Diller launched the first balloon in the Netherlands — made from animal hide and filled with hydrogen. The unmanned balloon rose over 60 meters high. Spectators paid 6 guilders to witness the event, a considerable sum at the time.
Two years later, on July 12, 1785, the first manned balloon flight in the Netherlands took place at the Malieveld. The renowned balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard took to the skies. His journey marks a key moment in aviation history, which you can explore further in the Roods app. Closely connected to Noordeinde Palace, the garden is still used for royal photoshoots and events.
Since 2013, it has been open to the public thanks to King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Whether you're here for a peaceful stroll, a picnic, or to explore The Hague’s rich past — the Palace Garden is well worth a visit.
Sources. Story: Source Story: 1. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleistuin 2. De Haagse Canon door Ineke Mahieu en Ad van Galen Photos: Source photo: OSeveno, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
