A charming look inside Mary II Stuart’s private kitchen cellar at Paleis Het Loo, with history, flowers, food and recipes.

The little kitchen cellar at Paleis Het Loo is unique. It formed part of the private apartments of Princess Mary II Stuart (1662–1695), the palace’s first resident. In summer she could leave behind the foul-smelling court city of The Hague and enjoy the peace and clean air of the countryside at Het Loo.

In the kitchen cellar Mary pursued her hobbies. She arranged flowers from her own garden and made preserves from citrus fruits grown at Paleis Het Loo. Mary’s kitchen cellar offers readers a glimpse into the life of a woman with an international network, who built a large collection of plants and flowers, collected Asian porcelain and Delftware, and as a patron stimulated and promoted the Delft pottery industry. Mary’s life included themes that remain current today, such as slowing down and growing and preparing one’s own food. The book includes recipes and inspiring examples for readers to try themselves.