The Hague is located in the western part of Holland on the North Sea. The palace complex consisting of historic buildings and two representative courtyards is one of the landmarks of the city. The former residence of the Dutch counts is called Binnenhof, which literally means "inner court”. Among its most precious buildings there is the thirteenth-century Hall of Knights, Ridderzaal, with soaring towers and beautiful stained glass windows depicting the coats of arms of cities. A session of Parliament is held in the building and the reigning monarch delivers the speech from the throne in the Hall of Knights once a year. Some chambers of the palace that is surrounded by a pond are made available to the public.
