A research project inside the Binnenhof complex has revealed that the wooden roof of the Torentje, the official office of the prime minister, was shipped from southern Sweden as a ready-to-assemble kit in 1547.
Oak beams and wooden pegs were transported across the sea to The Hague, where workers put the spire together 478 years ago.
Researchers established the exact timeline by analyzing tree rings from a wood core sample and cross-referencing the data with a count’s bill from 1547 for renovation materials.
Survived demolition and hidden from view
The roof structure ranks among the oldest in the city and came close to destruction on two separate occasions.
Prince Johan Maurits wanted the roof removed to improve his view across the Hofvijver from the Mauritshuis, but the plan was abandoned.
During the First World War, officials planned to demolish the entire corner to make room for a new Ministry of the Interior, yet the tower remained standing.
Access sealed until renovation
The space beneath the spire was preserved because no hatch connected the prime minister’s office to the attic, leaving the wood untouched for centuries.
Investigators made a hole in the ceiling plates to examine the space as part of the broader Binnenhof renovation work.
Once the investigations finish and the complex refurbishment concludes, officials plan to seal the attic again so the room can return to service as the prime minister’s workspace.
