The royal fashion exhibition Dress Codes - From Statement to Style Icon was opened on 8 October by Frans van der Avert, director of Paleis Het Loo, and fashion and lifestyle expert Arno Kantelberg. Showcasing an extraordinary selection of historical and modern pieces belonging to the royals and international celebrities, Dress Codes explores the influence of royal dress codes on fashion culture. The exhibition, produced in collaboration with Kunstmuseum Den Haag, will run until 8 March 2026.
Arno Kantelberg gave a welcome address on fashion and how it relates to the spirit of the times. Creative studio MAISON the FAUX developed three installations featuring white kimonos with black illustrations by artist Julian Stips specially for the opening festivities. The installations reference three themes explored in the exhibition: the outdoor life, wedding outfits and modern royalty. Stips’ illustrations were inspired by garments in the archives that are no longer worn, thus breathing new life into them.
Royal outfits and looks worn by major international stars
Uniquely, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, Princess Amalia, Princess Irene and Princess Mabel have made contemporary outfits from their private collections available for Dress Codes. The exhibition shows how rules concerning dress at court not only reflected status and style, but also influenced fashion culture through the centuries. Dress Codes brings together history and current events. Visitors can admire historical pieces belonging to members of the Dutch and Belgian royal families, including Queen Emma’s court train, Queen Wilhelmina’s wedding dress and Queen Juliana’s Charleston dress. The exhibition also features iconic looks worn by the stars of today, including Kendall Jenner, Dua Lipa, Billy Porter, Margot Robbie and Lady Gaga. Some of these modern creations have been loaned by fashion houses like Chanel, Guo Pei, Givenchy, Viktor&Rolf and Iris van Herpen.
Annette de Vries, Head of Research, Collections and Programming: "Nothing is more personal than the clothes we wear. They are tangible and present. The fabric, the texture, the line, the colours and the accessories: everything contributes to the overall effect. Dress Codes shows that clothes have always been a statement, both then and now, whether royal or not."
Coffee table book
Dress codes are all around us. People use their clothes to express who they are, or where they want to belong. A luxury coffee table book has been developed specially for the exhibition, in collaboration with Paul Rem, curator at Paleis Het Loo, Madelief Hohé, curator at Kunstmuseum Den Haag, and Cécile Narinx, fashion journalist and former editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar. The book describes how rules of style that applied at the Dutch court from 1880 to 1940 are reflected in current fashion culture. The fabulous photographs and extraordinary background stories in the book will allow visitors to continue enjoying the exhibition at home.
Dress Codes - From Statement to Style Icon
9 October 2025 – 8 March 2026
Paleis Het Loo
Koninklijk Park 16, Apeldoorn
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 – 17:00
Admission: € 21 for adults. € 9.50 for children aged 4-17. € 9.75 for concession holders (CJP- or student ID). Free admission for visitors with an annual museum pass (Museumkaart) or VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART.
Information and online tickets: paleishetloo.nl
Acknowledgements
Dress Codes has been possible thanks to the collaboration of Kunstmuseum Den Haag and the many museums and private individuals who have provided items on loan. Paleis Het Loo is particularly gratefully to HM the King, HM the Queen and their Royal Highnesses Princess Amalia, Princess Irene and Princess Mabel, who have all generously loaned us clothes from their private collections. Paleis Het Loo would also like to thank the Royal Collections in The Hague for its many long-term and temporary loans of royal clothes and accessories. Thanks also to the VriendenLoterij lottery, Apeldoorn municipal authority, the Mondrian Fund, Fonds 21, Zabawas, Hendrik Muller Fund and the Culture Fund.
About Paleis Het Loo
Paleis Het Loo, situated in Apeldoorn, was inhabited by members of the royal family until 1975. The palace reopened in 2023 after major renovations, with a revamped museum, a number of interactive exhibitions and a spectacular underground extension, making it one of the most iconic palace museums in the Netherlands. As well as the impressive rooms in the palace itself, the baroque gardens, stables and coach houses are also open to the public. With its mix of heritage, culture and topicality, Paleis Het Loo showcases four centuries of royal history.
