In front of the Dutch Queen's Palace, there are no guards, and vendors set up stalls by the roadside

Although Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, The Hague is actually the seat of the Dutch central government. The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, and the Queen's Palace (Paleis Noordeinde), where the king works, is also located in The Hague—however, the Netherlands no longer has a queen, and since 2013, the Queen's Palace has been the office of King Willem-Alexander. The Dutch Queen's Palace is located in the city center of The Hague, with soldiers standing guard at the entrance of the palace, which is built very modestly. The gates are mostly locked tight and are not open to the public. In contrast to the imposing name of the Queen's Palace, its exterior is actually very elegant, which fits the temperament of the Dutch royal family. A Dutch flag stands on the roof, and it is said that if the flag is raised, it indicates that the king is working inside. The office of the country's highest leader is a white old building that dates back to the 17th century. Apart from being enclosed by a gridded gate, there is nothing particularly special about it—there are no guards, nor any special warnings, and tourists wander outside the main gate, while vendors set up their stalls not far from the street. The royal crest hangs at the entrance of the Queen's Palace, and the equestrian statue in front of the palace is of 'William the Silent,' the father of the Dutch nation—who was the first Prince of Orange to govern the Dutch Republic. This statue was completed in the 19th century by a Dutch-born French sculptor. Although the palace is not open for tours, the royal garden on the west side is always open to the public for free. Following the Mill Street on the south side of the palace to the west side, a woodland blooming with flowers is the royal garden. The red brick building on the north side of the palace is the Royal Archives, which also serves as the king's library and private collection. To the north of the garden is a semi-circular pond, and further north is the Royal Stables. The royal carriages used for royal events are preserved there.