The Hague - Knights' Hall

(Local Name: Ridderzaal) In The Hague, at the east end of the Binnenhof's central courtyard is the Knights' Hall (Ridderzaal), which dates from the time of Floris V. The hall is used for receptions and congresses and also for the state opening of Parliament on the third Tuesday in September (Prinsjesdag), when the Queen drives to Parliament in her golden coach and delivers the speech from the throne. This large Gothic hall (40m/130ft by 20m/65ft) has magnificent stained glass depicting the coats of arms of Dutch towns; particularly fine is the rose window with the arms of the principal noble families of the Netherlands. The heavy timber roof structure with its 18m/60ft long beams has the appearance of an upturned