Dam Square

De Dam

The birthplace and city centre of Amsterdam, surrounded by the Royal Palace, the New Church, the National Monument and street performers. It is the starting point for walking the old town.

Dam Square takes its name from the dam built across the Amstel River in the 13th century, and Amsterdam itself, meaning the dam on the Amstel, derives its name from it. For more than 700 years, the square has been the political and commercial centre of the city. On its west side stands the Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis), built between 1648 and 1665 as a town hall that displayed the wealth of the Dutch Golden Age. It rests on 13,659 wooden piles. In 1808, Louis Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, converted it into a royal palace. Today the king uses it only for state receptions, and it is open to visitors the rest of the time for about €12.5. Inside, the marble floor of the citizens' hall is inlaid with a map of the world as it was then known, which is well worth seeing. On the north side is the New Church (Nieuwe Kerk), dating from the 15th century. It is the site of Dutch royal coronations and royal weddings, and it hosts large exhibitions when not in ceremonial use. On the east side, the white National Monument, 22 m tall and completed in 1956, commemorates those who died in the Second World War. Every year on 4 May at 20:00, a national two-minute silence is held here. On the south side are the Madame Tussauds wax museum and the Bijenkorf department store. The square is often filled with street performers, pigeons and events. Nearby, Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk are the busiest pedestrian shopping streets. Two blocks to the east are the Red Light District and the old church. About 10 minutes' walk to the west is the Anne Frank House. From Amsterdam Centraal Station, it is a 10-minute walk along Damrak, or you can take tram 4, 14 or 24 to Dam stop. The square is a hotspot for pickpockets and street sellers, so keep an eye on your belongings. Prices near the square are high, so for meals consider walking to the Jordaan or De Pijp.

Dam Square

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Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby