The Orangerie of Slot Zeist

The Renewed Orangerie “The great Gallery or the Orangerie of Slot Zeijst,” as the right wing of the castle was described in 1702 by engraver Daniël Stoopendaal, has undergone a remarkable transformation. 

Over the centuries, this space served many purposes, including a church hall, carriage house, gymnasium, music school, and various other functions. Gradually, it was subdivided into smaller, fragmented rooms, and the distinctive atmosphere of Slot Zeist was lost. 

The recent renovation removed these partitions and restored the original large-scale space. The Orangerie now forms the main entrance to the cultural wing and the gateway to an elegant hospitality venue. At the same time, the staircase has been enlarged, and a new broad stair connects the Orangerie to a beautiful vaulted hall below. 

The Marot Hall houses a permanent exhibition on the history of Zeist. Here, visitors will find the main information desk with a shop, as well as an interactive historical table featuring games, making it an engaging experience for the entire family. 

The cultural wing also includes a cinema and theatre, as well as an exhibition space. The renovation was inspired by the original Orangerie of 1682 and was designed by Ruud-Jan Kokke in collaboration with EN-atelier. 

Today, this wing once again reflects the grandeur of the castle. The Orangerie is furnished with beautiful antique furniture and accessories: small tables with richly decorated cast-iron legs, a charming children’s garden bench found in Belgium, and a long table originating from an old greenhouse. 

The antique bar appears to come straight from the castle garden, yet it is in fact a façade element from a centuries-old canal house in Amsterdam. Monumental flower bowls on consoles hold orange trees, and at the heart of the Orangerie hangs an impressive antique wooden chandelier. Originating from southern France, it connects seamlessly to the original French gardens of the castle, designed by Jacob Roman, with their many orange trees lining paths and avenues. During winter, these trees, together with the garden furniture, were traditionally stored in the Orangerie of Slot Zeist. 

The Wall Murals Daniël Stoopendaal was an engraver. Together with portrait painters, engravers were the photographers of their time. Around 1700, he documented the castle and its gardens in small copper engravings, which were printed and then hand-coloured. For this renovation, these engravings were photographed in high resolution and enlarged onto the walls. On the left wall: “Le Jardin Générale Regardant des Montées” (“The General Garden as Seen from the Staircases”) On the right wall: “Vue Générale de la Maison de Zeijst avec les Jardins et Allées” (“General View of the House, Gardens, and Avenues of Zeist”)