Photo: The Taste of Soestdijk, Marjon Hoogervorst
If you have an ABN AMRO card or a Museum Card, use the discount code 'pas' and receive a €5 discount on the entrance fee.
Major winter exhibition: 'The Taste of Soestdijk'
A journey through the Royal Kitchen
On view until March 29, 2026
This winter, Soestdijk Palace will open its doors for a major exhibition on the art of food and hospitality. 'The Taste of Soestdijk' takes visitors on a tasteful journey of discovery full of culinary traditions and royal table moments.
From large dinners for international guests to intimate family dinners: this exhibition takes an original look at the kitchen as the beating heart of this royal family home. For the first time, the historical kitchens are opened to the public and visitors are given a glimpse into how the Oranges ate, cooked and enjoyed good company.
The exhibition is being put together in collaboration with the former chef of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard.
Photo: National Archives
From large dinners to a homely meal
The kitchens and dining rooms of Soestdijk Palace are the setting for stories about royal dining habits and the people behind the scenes. From the chefs and kitchen staff to the suppliers who provided the best ingredients; they played a crucial role in daily life at court.
A look into the palace kitchen
For decades, cooking for the royal family and their guests was done here with care and precision. Visitors are transported into the stories of the residents, right where it all happened. What were Queen Juliana's children's favorite foods? How were leftovers handled in the palace? Which family recipes were passed down through the generations? From the preparations for grand dinners to the daily meals of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard, the kitchens of Soestdijk tell stories of craftsmanship and tradition.
Etiquette at court
Since 1650, generations of princes, princesses, kings, and queens have left their mark on the dining culture and etiquette of Soestdijk Palace. From the first mayor's wife, Catharina Hooft, who laid the foundation for hospitality and courteous manners at the palace, to the refined tastes and strict table rules of Anna Paulowna and William II, who introduced French grandeur to the table, while Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard gave the palace a homely character with simple, down-to-earth dishes and a more informal approach to etiquette.
Royal table treasures
This exhibition brings together a strong selection of contemporary designers, including Jurgen Bey, Hella Jongerius, and Bernard Heesen. Their unique tableware collections are accompanied by fashion creations by Claes Iversen and Tess van Zalinge. The designs are displayed in a stylized arrangement alongside historical tableware and tableware from the Royal Collections. This creates an intriguing dialogue between past and present, in which tradition and contemporary design complement each other.
Fairy tales at the table: the napkin triumphs of Joan Sallas
The exhibition "The Taste of Soestdijk" also features the impressive work of internationally renowned artist Joan Sallas (Barcelona), who has previously created for museums in New York and Hampton Court. Like a modern court magician, he uses folded and starched linen to bring the fairytale table triumphs of the Baroque to life: once a one-off, purely for a single enchanting evening, now meticulous reconstructions based on historical sources, rich in symbolism.
Especially for this exhibition, Sallas worked for a week as artist-in-residence in the White Dining Room of Soestdijk Palace, where he folded these wonderful pieces on the spot – as if the table itself begins to tell a story.
From hunting dish to French toast
The exhibition shows how tastes and eating habits have changed over the centuries. Which ingredients were popular in the past and which disappeared? Visitors are taken along the evolution of the royal menu, from hunting dishes and game dishes to stews and refined desserts. Unique anecdotes from former staff bring old recipes to life and show how these dishes were prepared with care and craftsmanship.
Masterpieces by Robèrt van Beckhoven
Specially for this exhibition, Robèrt is creating a "Taste of Soestdijk" tart and desserts prepared by Soestdijk's chefs for Queen Juliana, Queen Anna Paulowna, stadtholder William III, and his wife, Mary Stuart. Robèrt is reimagining these classic recipes with a contemporary twist, blending tradition and modern pastry. Real eye-catchers are Robèrt's impressive chocolate pieces, which take pride of place in a staged court setting: a richly set table with Princess Beatrix's gold tableware from the Royal Collections, surrounded by footmen in livery.
Tasting in the palace
Besides the grand palace kitchen, visitors can enjoy a daily tasting of delicacies from Robèrt's own bakery, specially inspired by palace stories. This way, they can literally savor the flavors of Soestdijk, immersed in the authentic atmosphere where cooking for the House of Orange was once performed.
Robert: "I once made a cake for Princess Beatrix when she was queen for 25 years. Returning to 'the court' for this exhibition truly feels like coming home – and it's an honor to be able to do this at Soestdijk Palace."
Info & Opening Hours The Taste of Soestdijk
Visitors are advised to reserve a ticket in advance.
Data: November 19, 2025 to March 29, 2026
Opened from: Wednesday to Sunday
Opening hours: 11:00 AM – 17:00 PM, last entrance at 16:15 PM
Costs€17,50 (children under 12 free). If you have an ABN AMRO pass or a Museum Card, use the discount code "pas" and receive a €5 discount on the entrance fee.
Soestdijk Palace and the Food Bank – Together for a full table
The major winter exhibition, "The Taste of Soestdijk," focuses not only on the rich food culture of the past, but also on modern meals. For every ticket sold for the exhibition, we contribute €0,25 to the Gooi & Omstreken Food Bank. This local food bank, with distribution points in Hilversum, Laren, Soest, Weesp, Huizen, and Naarden-Bussum, provides 350 families in our region with essential food parcels every week. They do this through donations, school, shop, and church drives, and 260 hardworking volunteers who dedicate themselves to this work every day.
By visiting Soestdijk Palace, you, along with us, directly contribute to this important work and help combat poverty. Your visit to The Taste of Soestdijk at Soestdijk Palace is not only a journey through history but also a tangible contribution to a meal for someone else.
