Paleis op de Dam

The Paleis op de Dam is the magnificent Royal Palace of Amsterdam that is worth a visit. Its story begins in 1648 when the Netherlands became a sovereign state. A wealthy sovereign state with the most powerful fleet in the world. The city hall of the most powerful city of the republic did not reflect the new reality.

An ambitious project for the reconstruction of the Old Town hall on Dam was set in motion and work started immediately. In 1655 a massive new building was standing where the old medieval one once stood.

The new city hall was designed by architect Jacob van Campen partly as a monument to the Peace of Münster and Dutch independence. It was only natural that the statue of Peace would take a prominent position on the facade of the building. For two centuries, the Town Hall of Amsterdam was the largest secular building in Europe.

The façade is 79 meters wide and 53 meters high to the top of the tower. A huge amount of sandstone and marble were brought in from abroad to coat the facades and interiors.  Exactly 13,659 wooden poles, made from Norwegian spruce, were driven into Amsterdam’s soft ground to carry the weight of the building. It’s no wonder that, even during construction, the building was called ‘the Eighth Wonder of the World.

During the French occupation, the city hall became the palace of King Louis Bonaparte and was furnished accordingly. After the Napoleonic Empire collapsed in 1813, Frederik Willem of Orange returned and was proclaimed Sovereign Prince at the Palace which was placed at his disposal. The building remained under royal property until 1936 when it was sold to the Dutch State which has since put it at the disposal of the Head of State.

The Palace plays a major role during state visits, but also other royal occasions, such as New Year’s receptions, gala dinners, and award ceremonies. In addition, the Palace is open to visitors as much as possible. A living building where you can follow in the footsteps of royal guests through its imposing rooms and halls.

Most of the year, the Royal Palace is open for visitors. A free audio guide is available in Dutch, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese and Russian. A free audio guide for children is available in Dutch and English. The audio tour takes about 60 minutes and is definitely worth your time. Description –  More