Hof van Nassau, Gothic palace in Royal Quarter, Brussels, Belgium
Hof van Nassau was a palace complex in Brussels comprising multiple buildings, a chapel, and gardens situated on elevated ground. The compound stood near the Palace of Coudenberg and served as the residence of powerful noble families.
The complex was founded in 1340 when Willem van Duivenvoorde established his residence there, and passed to the House of Nassau in 1403 through marriage. This transfer marked a significant change in the site's importance and role.
The place served as a gathering point for European nobles and attracted artists and learned people to its halls. The art collection reflected the tastes and power of the family who lived there.
The surviving chapel can be accessed through the Royal Library of Belgium, where original architectural details remain visible. The former gardens have been transformed and are no longer recognizable as such, having become part of the modern Museum Square.
The residence featured a special bed designed to eject intoxicated guests, reflecting the unconventional entertainment practices of the nobility. Such practical jokes reveal how the nobility of that time blended luxury with amusement.
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