The Huis ten Bosch or Maison du Bois was built between 1635 and 1652 by Pieter Post on the design of Jacob van Campen for Princess Amelia von Solms, widow of Prince Frederick Henry of Orange. The two wings were added before the middle of the 18th century by Daniel Marot. Here John Adams was received by Prince William V of Orange after Dutch recognition of American sovereignty in 1782, and was a frequent visitor thereafter during his sojourns at The Hague. See his Diary under 14 September 1782 and note, p. 5, 9.

In June 1784 Elkanah Watson, of Providence, Rhode Island, toured the Netherlands and provided the most detailed account we have of Adams' habits as American minister at The Hague. Of a visit with Adams to the Huis ten Bosch he wrote:

“Breakfasted with Mr. Adams—after which we visited la Maison du Bois, which is situated about a mile from the Hague, in the centre of the largest natural wood in Holland, and the only one, except the wood near Haerlem.

“This palace was built by the widow of prince Henry Frederick, for a house of mourning. It is an elegant structure and entirely sequestered from the gay world, being in a manner embosomed in a grove, cut into many romantick walks leading from the palace, which has a large garden behind it. Over the gate we saw the arms of Orange Nassau, and entered by a flight of steps.

“The grand saloon, with its exquisite paintings, are the principal objects of attention, and mostly executed by those great masters, Rubens and Van der Worf, representing in very large pieces, the brilliant triumphs of Frederick Henry, who finished the fabrick of independence for his country, which was founded by his immortal father, and vigorously carried on by his gallant brother Prince Maurice. . . .

“The floors are black walnut, covered with rich carpets. In one of the apartments we saw a valuable India japanned railing, enclosing the princess's bed; which is inlaid with the mother of pearl, and cost twenty eight thousand guilders. In another apartment was shewn us a flower piece, the work of a Flemish master, and valued at fifteen thousand florins. I was so enraptured with the paintings, that after a full hour's eager examination, I left them with regret.

“Mr. Adams then discharged his carriage, and we walked two hours more about the forest, which was very pleasing to me, not-withstanding the roads were heavy and sandy. The lofty oaks seemed to be so promiscuously thrown together, that it revived in my breast a lively picture of many such situations I had seen in the course of my tour through the United States of America, some years since. Our eyes were delighted with the fine plumage of the birds, whose sweet melody reechoed through the woods” (A Tour in Holland, in ix MDCCLXXXIV, Worcester, 1790, p. 78–81).