construction of huis ten bosch began on 2 september 1645, under the direction of bartholomeus drijffhout, and to a design by pieter post and jacob van campen. it was commissioned by amalia of solms-braunfels, the wife of stadtholder frederick henry, on a parcel of land granted to her by the states general (loonstra 1983, slothouwer 1945). the first stone was laid by elizabeth of bohemia.