The Grand Staircase Paleis het Loo

The magnificent centrepiece of Paleis het Loo is the grand staircase at the heart of the palace.
As early as the 17th century, this staircase made a lasting impression on visitors to King William III and Mary Stuart II.
The murals surrounding the staircase form the second-largest painting in the Netherlands, designed by Daniel Marot. There is a wealth of detail to admire: a balustrade, behind which men from the Ottoman Empire appear to be welcoming you, a parrot and vases adorned with garlands of flowers. The imposing mural wraps completely around the staircase and must have been just as impressive to William III’s visitors as it is to visitors today. Het Loo Palace is now once again working to preserve this remarkable heritage.

The approach

A layer of varnish was applied during previous conservation work (1975–1984). It has since become apparent that this is causing damage to the historic oil paint. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the painting is carefully restored.
The first step in this process is, of course, always thorough research and testing to determine which treatment is most suitable. Naturally, the enormous size of the paintings must also be taken into account. Conservators from SRAL first remove the old varnish layer using soft cloths and solvents, retouch damaged areas and finally apply a protective final varnish. All of this takes place under the watchful eye and commentary of visitors.
The rear wall, as the first project, was completed in June 2026. The two side walls and the window wall will follow later. Below is a short video showing the conservators removing the varnish, courtesy of Paleis het Loo.