Royal Class - from 26 June, 2026

Activity: Presentation
Date: 26 Jun 2026 t-m 31 Dec 2030
Age: All ages

The new exhibition ‘Royal Class’ tells visitors more about the connection between the Dutch royal family and the railways. For almost 150 years, the Dutch royal family travelled through Europe in their own carriages. The carriages were fitted out as mobile homes, allowing them to work, sleep, play games and do homework. The train was used for special occasions, such as public holidays, commemorations, visits by distinguished guests and holidays. Royal Class opens on 26 June 2026.

In 1839, the first train in the Netherlands ran between Amsterdam and Haarlem. King William I had personally championed the cause. Since then, the train has been used regularly by the royal family, both for business trips and for private journeys, such as to winter sports resorts. The royal carriages of various monarchs are on display in the Royal Class exhibition. Also on display in the museum is De Arend, a replica of the locomotive that pulled the first train in 1839.

According to protocol, the monarch is never expected to wait. When travelling by train, this is not always feasible. To ensure that the monarch can wait in peace and comfort, there are royal waiting rooms at various stations across the Netherlands. Royal Class takes you right into the royal waiting room on display at the Railway Museum. It comes from the Staatsspoor station in The Hague, which was demolished in 1974.