History and heritage, fun and festivities come together in the beating heart of old and new Amsterdam.
Dam Square is the magnet that has drawn Amsterdamers together for centuries. The historic centre of the old town is today one of its liveliest and most popular meeting places. It’s a favourite place to shop, sightsee or just chill out and watch the ubiquitous pigeons touting for scraps.One side of the square is dominated by the imposing Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace), built by Napoleon’s brother Louis during the French occupation of the Netherlands. The building became the City Hall under King Willem van Oranje and nowadays it is still in use as a venue for important royal and national occasions. The palace is open to visitors every day except Mondays, when for a small fee you can tour the elegant rooms painted by Rembrandt and his contemporaries. Next to the palace is the Niewe Kerk this dramatic Gothic church, which hosts exhibitions and concerts, is notable for its stained glass, intricately carved pulpit and celebrated pair of organs.Another of Dam Square’s prominent landmarks is the National Monument, a vast white obelisk built in 1956 in commemoration of the veterans of World War II. Every May 4 people file respectfully into the square to observe a minute’s silence, while the following day the atmosphere changes to one of joyful celebration of Liberation Day. On the King’s birthday in April and during special sporting occasions such as international soccer tournaments the square is filled with high-spirited revellers draped in orange, the national colour. At other times the National Monument is a pleasant place to stop for a few moments to listen to the sounds of street organs and watch the buskers competing to draw the biggest crowd.Dam Square is also the location of some of the city’s major department stores. After you’ve checked out the latest fashions and homeware, head for the popular café in De Bijekorf (the Beehive), where you can enjoy coffee and cake with great views of the old stock exchange (Beurs van Berlage), or go celeb-spotting among the waxworks at Madame Tussauds in the Peek & Cloppenburg building.Dam Square’s central location makes it easily accessible by bus and tram from all parts of the city, or by a short walk from Central Station along Damrak. Parking can be tricky, so you might find it easier to leave your car in a park-and-ride on the outskirts and take public transport into the centre.
