Ridderzaal (Hall of the Knights)

The twin-towered Gothic centrepiece of the Binnenhof, The Hague’s historic seat of government. Built around 1280 by Count Floris V as a great banqueting hall, the Ridderzaal still lies at the heart of Dutch political life — its soaring 26-metre oak-beamed interior, provincial flags and stained-glass coats of arms forming the backdrop to the King’s annual Prinsjesdag speech each September. Wander the courtyard, admire the façade and its gilded fountain, and soak up eight centuries of history in the middle of the city.