Dinner at the Royal Palace Amsterdam

The Amsterdam Palace is the official Palace of His Majesty the King of the Netherlands. For over more than 200 years, the Palace plays a major rol during state visits and other royal occasions. It is a building in which the throne is passed from one monarch to the next and royal weddings are celebrated. The Dutch sovereigns acquired magnificent dinner services and collections of silverware, making the dinners, both then and now, resplendent affairs. A large part of this significant collection is still in use today for state banquets and receptions held at the Royal Palace Amsterdam. 

In 1816, the Prince of Orange, later King William II, married Princess Anna Pavlovna, daughter of the Russian Tsar Paul I, in St. Petersburg. When the couple departed for the Netherlands, the Princess brought an exentensive dowry with her. This included an exquisite new dinner service from the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory, painted with allegorical, classical and folkloristic motifs. 

In the years following his investiture in 1840, King william II acquired an extensice set of (gilt) silverware. Between 1841 and 1847, Lindon-based silversmith John Samuel Hunt supplied nofewer than 252 pieces, ranging from larghe, highly imaginative centrepieces to the smalles items of cutlery. Hunt held the Royal Warrant to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. 

Please note: this is a past exhibition.