The rather austere neoclassical palace and its stables were built between 1823 and 1828 for Prince William II of Orange in recognition of his brilliant action on the battlefield at Waterloo, from funds granted by the nation. It was the joint work of two architects, Charles Vander Straeten (1771–1834) and Tilman-François Suys (1783–1861), at a total cost of 1,215,000 florins.