Counterplay (Tegenspel) – A Century of Female Kingship is the new exhibition at the Loo Palace in Apeldoorn.
The exhibition tells the story of the Netherlands’ three reigning Queens – Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Juliana and Queen Beatrix – against a backdrop of significant social changes and public perceptions of women.
As Queens, the women were forced to play double roles. They were the monarch, but they were also responsible for holding up the traditional image of a mother. Queen Wilhelmina succeeded her father at a time when women were not even allowed to vote, while Queen Juliana became the first Dutch royal to attend university. Her daughter, Queen Beatrix, modernised the monarchy.
The exhibition begins with a lovely piece of art before moving on to our first Queen – Wilhelmina. The stories are told on large murals in both Dutch and English, making it very accessible to foreign visitors. There are screens with telephones so that the audio isn’t blasted all over the exhibition. The setup is quite spacious, and even though it was very busy, I could still see everything well.
I did feel the exhibition lacked a bit of a personal touch. For such a grand exhibition, there are relatively few items actually on display, which makes it miss the personal connection with the three Queens.
The exhibition comes with a few pieces of merchandise, which are available in the shop on site. However, there is no accompanying publication, even though this subject would have been perfect for it!
Overall, you can never go wrong with a day at the Loo Palace, as there is also the permanent House of Orange exhibition and the magnificent palace itself. However, I am afraid this exhibition didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
The exhibition will run until 31 August 2025. Plan your visit here.
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