Royal Palace of Amsterdam
The Amsterdam Royal Palace, located on Dam Square in the city center, was initially erected as a city hall for Amsterdam's mayors and magistrates. It was planned by Jacob van Campen in the 17th century and erected on 13,659 wooden piles driven deep into the sandy soil. This building technology is still essential and employed in Amsterdam today.
The palace is the largest and most prominent edifice from the Golden Age, making it one of the most important monuments in the Netherlands. In Dutch, it is formally known as Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam (Royal Palace Amsterdam), although it is more often known as Paleis op de Dam (literally, Palace on the Dam).
The structure was constructed in 1648 as the Amsterdam City Hall and became the Royal Palace in 1808 when King Lodewijk Napoleon, the first King of Holland, moved in. The palace's heavy facade, designed to portray the civic might of 17th-century Amsterdam in particular and the Dutch Republic in general, conceals its exquisite interior.
Inside the Royal Palace, opulent interiors showcase the richness possessed by the city during its Golden Age, including a central hall replete with marble sculptures. A sculpture of Atlas supporting the world is a highlight. The Palace is available to the public as often as feasible. It receives around 300,000 visitors each year.
- Google Rating: 4.5/5
- Website: https://www.paleisamsterdam.nl/
- Phone: +31 20 522 6161
- Opening Hours: Sat to Sun - 10:00 to 17:00
- Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147, 1012 RJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
