IN THE ROYAL DOLLS’ HOUSE

Queen Juliana’s doll collection will be on view in an exhibition entitled ‘In the Royal Dolls’ House’ from 27 March to 5 September 2010 in Paleis Het Loo. During her long life the people of the Netherlands gave Queen Juliana more than six hundred dolls. Many of them have never been exhibited in public before.

Most of the dolls, often lovingly dressed by the giver, were presented to the Queen on the occasion of the annual birthday parade on 30 April and at the special parade for elderly people in June, both of which took place at the Queen’s residence Paleis Soestdijk. To begin with people paid homage to the queen in the form of flowers but later increasingly more gifts were given, including many dolls. Queen Juliana was known to have built up a doll collection over the years, which is why many people came up with the idea of making their own contribution. Dolls were often offered as gifts when the queen travelled through the country and during foreign trips.

The collection includes dolls dressed in Dutch and foreign national and local costumes. Many of the dolls, often in different traditional dress, come from the former West Indies’ colonies, while a significant number wear uniform or professional dress. Individual dolls represent members of the royal family and there is also a knight and an orphan child.  

Over the years Queen Juliana exhibited a number of her dolls in various places, always for a good cause. Thanks to the House of Orange-Nassau Historic Collections Trust her extensive collection can now be presented in its entirety for the first time.

During the weekend of 3 and 4 July a Dolls’ Festival will be held at Paleis Het Loo devoted to everything to do with dolls, bears, dolls’ houses and miniatures.