Erected in 1648 as a City Hall, this building was turned into a royal palace by Louis Bonaparte in 1808, following a fire. William of Orange, King of the United Provinces in 1814, made it his residence. Nowadays the Queen only makes occasional appearances here. The imposing but ungraceful rectangular building rests on 13 659 piles. The bells were cast by François Hémony. Above the east and west facades there are fine sculpted tympanums.