PhD project
“The Binnenhof” a contested court. History, housing and politics in The Hague, 1813-2013
This project examines the meaning of this historical place, and the way it has been used by the political institutions that have had their seat there.
- Duration
- 2010 - 2014
- Contact
- Diederik Smit
- Funding
- Dutch House of Representatives
- Senate
- Ministry of General Affairs
- Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations
The Binnenhof (literally the Inner Court) is a complex of government buildings in The Hague that has been the centre of Dutch politics for many centuries. It is the only centre of government in the Western world located outside the nation’s capitol and one of the oldest still in use today. Founded in the middle ages as a court of the counts of Holland, it became the location of meetings of the States-General in the late 16th century and the main residence of the stadholders during the Republic. In the 19th and 20th centuries it has been the seat of the Dutch parliament as well as several ministries and the Prime Minister’s Office. This project examines the meaning of this historical place, and the way it has been used by the political institutions that have had their seat there.