What is the name of the central square of Amsterdam? Dam area
The heart of Amsterdam is Dam Square. The name comes from the dam on the Amstel River, which marked the beginning of the development of the city and center of the capital of the Netherlands.
The construction of the dam dates back to around 1270. It connected two small fishing villages. It was from this moment that the city began its growth and development; it became a center of crafts and trade.
The dam was constantly strengthened and expanded. It grew to such an extent that it gradually turned into two fairly wide squares, Middeldam and Platse. Since the squares were adjacent to the mooring places of fishing vessels, one of the largest fish markets was formed a few meters from the original pier, where you could buy gifts from the rivers and the sea in any quantity.
In addition, the squares are gradually turning into the center of the political and economic life of the city. The town hall was also built there. In addition to the administrative building, the following were also built on the square:
- The weighbridge, which had to be demolished in 1808. by the will of the first ruler of Amsterdam, Louis Bonaparte (the building prevented him from admiring his possessions from the royal balcony).
- Zocher Stock Exchange (1837), built on territory that was reclaimed from the water and allowed for a significant expansion of the area. But it did not last even a century - with the development of the Stock Market, trading in shares was firmly established on the Berlage Exchange, and the building itself was demolished.
- In 1914, a one of the largest department stores of that time, De Bijenkorf.
Since the beginning of the twentieth century, an area of about 11,500 square meters. m. becomes not only the center of the city, but actually turns into the heart of the Netherlands, where the most significant events and activities take place - fairs, festivals, ceremonies, as well as demonstrations and protests.
Attractions
Dam Square is a tourist mecca. Anyone who has visited the capital of the Netherlands at least once will definitely bring back some wonderful photos, capturing themselves and their friends against the backdrop of the sights.
Modern Dam Square is:
- Royal Palace , rising in the western part of the square. The building is the personification of neoclassicism; from the 17th to the early 19th centuries it housed the city hall, then it became the residence of the ruling dynasty. Today, King Willem Alexander is in charge of the palace. In 2009, the building was reconstructed, and today, when members of the royal family are absent, anyone can see most of the apartments.
- New Church , built in the 15th century, to replace the Old one, which by that time could not accommodate all the parishioners. The building was built in the Gothic style and is one of the oldest architectural monuments. Since 1979 it has lost its main theological function. It houses traveling exhibitions of artists and features an organ. If you want to attend one of the organ concerts so beloved by the Dutch, then you should take care of tickets in advance.
- , one of the most vibrant and famous museums in the world. The building itself fits organically into the architectural ensemble of the square and is its decoration.
- National Monument, located in the center of the square, was erected in 1956 in honor of the Dutch soldiers of World War II. The author of the project is the architect Jacobus Oud. Every spring, on the Day of Remembrance of the Dead, members of the royal family and state leaders, as well as guests and residents of the country, lay flowers and wreaths at it. The square itself is a symbol of cruelty: on May 8, 1945, on the day of the overthrow of the fascist regime, the square was filled with a jubilant crowd. But the fun was interrupted by a machine gun burst. The Nazis placed a machine gun on the roof of one of the houses and opened fire on the residents celebrating the victory. Sources claim that 22 people were killed and 120 were seriously injured that evening.
- Attractions also operating at night: Ferris wheel, shooting gallery for children, carousel.
Webcam
There is a web camera installed on Dam Square that broadcasts online 24 hours a day.
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Dam Square is the rectangular heart of Amsterdam, 200 meters from east to west and a hundred meters to the south. This place is famous for events that have gone down in history; the most famous buildings in the capital are located on the square.
Dam Square is located 750 meters south of the central station. If you cross the square and go southeast, you will find yourself in the red light district, on Rue de Wallen. If you go west, you will find yourself in the Royal Palace, right next to the Gothic New Church ( Nieuwe Kerk), buildings of the 15th century and the famous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
The Heroes' Stella is on the opposite side of the square; it was installed in 1956. It is a national monument designed to memorialize the fallen heroes of World War II. The most famous city hotel in Amsterdam, Krasnopolsky, and the Benkorf department store are also located here. In addition, Dame Square resembles St. Mark's Square in Venice - its permanent inhabitants are tame pigeons. Here you can find birds of various breeds.
The history of the square is the history of the dam. Back in the 13th century, a dam was built on the Amstel River to create a connection between settlements on different banks. Gradually it was strengthened, expanded, and the dam turned into a city square, and the city began to develop around it. The two squares Platse and Middeldam merged together.
Life in this place was in full swing. A large fish market opened, and ships began to moor at the dam for loading and unloading. The government chose Dam Square as the center of political life and the site where the town hall was built. The market square itself and the houses that nestle on it can be seen in many ancient paintings.
The market ceased to exist at the beginning of the 19th century by order of Bonaparte. Then, in the 19th century, the former mouth of the Amstel was covered with earth, and Dam Square was cut off from the water. The new place, which was reclaimed from the water element, was built up.
In 1837, a stock exchange appeared, which was demolished at the beginning of the last century and in 1914 the world-famous Benkorf department store rose on the square. For a long time it was the center of tram traffic in Amsterdam, and horse-drawn trams could be seen here.
Dam Square has gone down in history as a place great tragedy. Newsreel footage left a sad day in the memory. This happened on May 7, 1945, two days passed after the surrender of Germany. Jubilant Amsterdammers gathered in the city center, preparing to meet the liberators.
The square was filled, people danced, sang and congratulated each other. The joy was interrupted by machine gun fire. The Germans installed a machine gun on the balcony of one of the buildings and began to shoot joyful civilians. On the edge of peace, 120 people were seriously injured and 22 died.
Mass events and demonstrations are constantly held on the square, including National Remembrance Day. Several times a year, large fairs are held in the central square of Amsterdam, especially colorful and large-scale on the eve of Christmas. Besides this favorite place meetings of city residents. To the question “Where will we meet?” - the most common answer is “On Dam Square”.
The beautiful name of the square evokes an association with the fair sex, but this is not an entirely correct assumption. The word "Dam" means "dam" in Dutch. This name was chosen for a reason: eight centuries ago, a dam was erected on the Amstel River, which served as a connection between the settlements formed along the banks of the river, and over time it began to fulfill a different role - the central city square, where you could get a lot of entertainment.
David Saddler
Dam Square and Heineken Beer Cart
Dam Square is the main venue for cultural events in the city. Demonstrations and colorful fairs are held here, especially in the run-up to the Christmas holidays.
It is located on the Amstel River dam, which was built in the 13th century. The proximity to the river and merchant ships turned the square into a place of trade. At first there was a large fish market here, then, after filling up the mouth of the Amstel River, a stock exchange was opened on the square, and after its closure, the Benkorf department store. In the 20th century, the square became a place for various meetings, including those of national importance.
Dam Square is a rectangle of 20 thousand m2. It can be reached on foot from the central railway station and in 10 minutes. There are many attractions here that attract tourists from all over the world. These include the Royal Palace, located in the western part of the square. This building housed the city hall for two centuries, and later, in 1808, it became the residence of the ruling dynasty and remains so to this day. It was opened for tourists only in the 21st century; the royal family does not officially use it, but from time to time official receptions are organized here, and even weddings of members of the royal family are held.
Not far from the palace is the building of the New Church. Built in the 15th century, it ceased operation in 1979 and now hosts art exhibitions and organ music concerts. In the immediate vicinity of the church there is the famous Tussauds Wax Museum. A National Monument was erected nearby. The stone stella was erected in 1956 in memory of the victims of World War II. Every year, ceremonies are held here - Days of Remembrance of the Dead.
On the square there is one of the most famous hotels in the city - Krasnopolsky, on its territory there is winter Garden and a miniature distillery. There you can sample local drinks and relax in the garden. Near the hotel there is a department store called De Bijenkorf, prestigious and expensive.
The decision to settle in this place will be an excellent choice for people who love noisy pastimes and are not strapped for money.
Actually, Dam Square can be considered the main historical attraction of the city - after all, it became the center around which the capital of Holland was formed as an administrative unit. Even the name of the city consists of two words: “Amstel” - the name of the river on which there were fishing settlements, and “dam” - a dam. It is on it, powerfully fortified and protecting Amsterdam from flooding, that Dam is located.
From the 13th century in this small area - only 100 by 200 m - holidays were organized, the most important issues were resolved, trade and political discussions were conducted, representatives to parliament from the parties and movements of the city were elected.
For much of its history Dam was a place of vibrant trade and financial center, in which the fish market played a significant role: the location of the dam was very convenient for mooring and unloading boats from all over the region. The city's Chamber of Weights (supervisory body) and the stock exchange, in whose building today there is a store, were also located.
The Dam has become more than an iconic landmark: it is the real heart of Amsterdam, whose authorities carefully preserve its rich historical and social heritage.
Of course, we didn’t forget about tourists. The square has become a well-organized cultural area where you can get acquainted with its main attractions - the Royal Palace, the New Church and the National Monument to the Victims of the Second World War.
Architectural features
Dam Square is an almost classic rectangle of 100 by 200 m adjacent to the Coin Tower, bringing together the central streets of the city Damrak and Rokin. Despite its very modest size (the Netherlands is generally a small country), there are several interesting attractions located here.
The ensemble of the square combines both classical Gothic (the building of the old stock exchange, now a store) and the neoclassical style, to which the royal palace belongs.
But, of course, the main feature of the square is the fact that it is located directly on the dam. However, you won’t notice this - the fact is that back in the 19th century. The water-filled lagoons were finally covered with soil.
Must see
It fell to us to preserve the history of Amsterdam from the very days of its foundation architectural ensemble located along the perimeter of the square. There are many attractions here, each of which is worth spending at least a little time on.
Koninklijk Paleis, as the Amsterdammers themselves call it, is a typical example of Roman classicism: majestic and beautiful, it was built from the 17th to the 19th centuries. was the place of work of the city mayor's office. Today it is one of the three residences of the Dutch monarch owned by him.
The specifics of building construction in Amsterdam are similar to those in Venice: they are placed on piles driven into the bottom. More than 13 thousand were needed for the royal palace.
The standard of the new Gothic with its spiers soaring up is also located here. This is the New Church (or Nieuwekerk): built in the 15th century, it was repeatedly rebuilt and reconstructed after fires. The last renovation took place in the 80s of the last century - especially for the coronation ceremony of Queen Beatrix.
Today the church is open to everyone: exhibitions and organ music concerts are regularly held here.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
The main museum is located in London, and its branch is located on Dam Square. However, this did not affect the content of the exhibitions. Of course, all exhibits accurately recreate celebrities, and visitors not only have the opportunity to take pictures with stars and world politicians, but also make a cast of their own hand.
National Monument to the Fallen of World War II
A huge white stele with a fragment of the wall in the background of the monument (Nationaal Monument op de Dam) is located under open air, directly on the square itself. Here, every year, tribute is paid to all the Dutch who died during the greatest war in human history.
The majestic obelisk made of white travertine is complemented by bas-reliefs and a sculptural group: flying doves symbolize liberation and the beginning of a new life.
Dam Square is considered the ancestor of the capital of the Netherlands. It went through many rebuildings and reconstructions, turning from a fish market into the center of the political, commercial and tourist life of the city.
Today, every traveler strives to first visit the square, which is the heart of Amsterdam. Locals gather here to celebrate important events and participate in various events. Dam is so popular that you can see it semi-desert only in the early morning, in severe cold or heavy rain. Peacefully neighboring buildings attract attention different eras and styles, unusual monuments, street performers and brave pigeons.
Story
In the second half of the 13th century, a dam and a sluice were built on the Amstel River, intended for the passage of boats and the release of water. It has become much easier to travel along the embankment between two fishing villages located on different banks. Gradually, the Middeldam Dam expanded and strengthened. Platse was added to its western part in 1390. The squares were perceived as separate objects until the 16th century, after which they merged. At the end of the XVIII - XIX centuries. de Dam was temporarily renamed Revolutieplein and Napoleonplein.
The name of Dam Square has nothing to do with the fair sex. It only emphasizes its origin, since from Dutch this word is translated as “dam”.
By the 14th century, the administrative center of Amsterdam began to form on the square. The City Hall was built on Platse, but it burned down in a fire in 1652. A New Church (Niewe Kerk) was built nearby, which has survived, although in a modified form, to this day.
The square housed the Weight House, ensuring fair market trade. The first building appeared in 1341, and in 1565 it was replaced by a more spacious one. The latter was demolished in 1808 by order of Louis Bonaparte, as the structure spoiled the view from the window of the Royal Palace.
Until 1841, fishing boats and merchant ships moored at the dam, and a brisk trade in freshly caught fish and overseas curiosities took place on the square. After the next filling of the Amstel channel, the pier was moved to the beginning of Damrak Street. Since then trade area became national.
From the 1840s to the early 1900s, the Socher Stock Exchange building stood on the site of today's De Bienkorff department store. It was demolished as unnecessary after the construction of the Birzhe Berlage on Damrak Street, which today has been turned into a congress center. The Zeeman store building was also replaced. In its place in 1917, a multi-storey shopping center “Peek & Cloppenburg” was built. Since 1991, part of it has been occupied by the Amsterdam branch of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
The square has been at the center of events more than once. In the 16th century, Anabaptists rebelled here, at the beginning of the last century, workers protested violently, during the Vietnam War, students protested, at the turn of 1960-70. — the hippies spent the night. On May 7, 1945, two days after the liberation of the Netherlands by the Allies, citizens came to Dam Square to celebrate the end of the war. The Nazis, hiding in an ambush, opened fire on civilians. As a result, more than 100 people were injured and 31 were killed.
Features of Dam Square
The outline of the square in plan resembles a curved trapezoid. The greatest width - from north to south - is 100 meters, and the maximum length - from east to west - about 175 meters. The Dam is adjacent to two main thoroughfares in Amsterdam:
- Rokin Street (from the south) - partially runs along a section of the main channel of the Amstel River that was filled up in 1936. Leads to the Coin Square (Muntplein);
- Damrak Street (from the northeast) - located on the site of the city that was liquidated in 1845-83. channel. Starts at the train station.
The roadway located between the streets conditionally divides the area into two sections - western and eastern. The first is Dam Square, the second is the National Monument. For safety reasons, both parts are separated from the roads along the entire perimeter by concrete blocks and vases with flower arrangements.
Dam Square is surrounded by multi-storey buildings built from the 15th to 20th centuries. There are stylized lampposts in front of the Royal Palace. In 2001, the asphalt was completely replaced with stone pavement.
Attractions
Most sightseeing routes start from de Dam tourist routes in Amsterdam. There is a lot to see, a place to visit and a place to eat.
The royal palace in the style of Dutch classicism was built by the Dutch architect Jacob van Kampen in the period 1648-55. Until 1808, the building was used as the City Hall, until Louis Bonaparte, being the King of Holland in 1806-10, placed his residence in it. Subsequently, the “Palace on the Dam” became the property of representatives of the Royal House of Orange, and in 1935 it was bought by the state. Today, social receptions, royal ceremonies and official meetings at the highest level are held here. Most The Royal Palace is open to the public. More details about the object can be found in our article.
The Protestant church Nieuwe Kerk appeared on the square in the 15th century. The building burned several times, in the 16th century. - was vandalized by the Anabaptists in the middle of the 17th century. - was rebuilt, and in the twentieth century. — repaired and reconstructed. Its architectural appearance and interior decoration contain several styles - Gothic, Neo-Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. All city clocks were synchronized for a long time using the sundial erected on the Nieuwe Kerk tower. Noble persons have been crowned and married in the church (most recently, the current King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, and his wife). Today, organ music concerts and exhibitions are organized within the walls of the religious building. The church is not used for its intended purpose.
Building shopping complex"De Bienkorf" was built in 1914-15. designed by the architect van Straaten. Simon Goodsmith's small haberdashery store, which gave rise to a trading empire, appeared on the street adjacent to Dam Square in 1870. The business was expanded by the first owner's cousin, Isaac. Today De Bienkorf is a multifaceted shopping center of the highest level. According to tourists, the display windows inside the store are designer works. The facility is located on the corner of Damrak Street.
Hotel Krasnapolsky is located in a historical building of the 19th century, opposite the National Monument. In 1865, in its place there was a Polish coffee house, which the first owner of the five-star hotel, Adolf Krasnapolsky, turned into a popular restaurant with a billiard room. Subsequently, he bought the neighboring houses and ordered the architect G. Salm to design a new building in a modern style for that time. The hotel opened for the 1883 World's Fair. The hotel was the only one in the city that had hot water and a telephone.
Monuments
The national monument is a 22-meter pylon lined with travertine, a sculptural composition and a memorial wall with bas-relief. It was erected in tribute to the memory of compatriots who died during the Second World War. The figures symbolize suffering, liberation, peace and the rebirth of life. The monument, designed by J. Ouda, was inaugurated in 1956. Previously, since 1947, there was a temporary monument in its place. Nearby are figures of two lions, which are a symbol of the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Memorial Park is unusual monument to the victims of the execution on May 7, 1945. Slabs of various shapes with the names of the victims were laid into the body of the paving stones in 2016. The site is located between tram line and houses in the northeast of the square.
Entertainment
Ripley's Believe It or Not is located in the southeast corner of Dam Square. Exhibits presenting little-known and strange facts, unusual and exotic places planets are interesting to both adults and children.
The Cannabis Museum is a minute's walk from the Ripley's attraction. It tells about the history of the spread of hemp around the world and the products produced from it. On the ground floor there is a large assortment of products related to cannabis in one way or another.
Cafes and restaurants
On the square and in its surroundings there is a large number of public catering points. These are the restaurant “La Boca” and the pizzeria “La Piazza”, a sandwich shop “Subway” and a donut shop, a restaurant serving Argentine and Mexican cuisine, McDonald’s, coffee shops, pastry shops, bars and other establishments.
The shops
There are many retail outlets on Dam. These are stores of clothing, shoes, souvenirs, leather goods, jewelry, and children's toys.
The largest shopping facility is the multi-storey department store "De Bienkorf". It presents various groups of consumer goods and a wide range of services, including a return point Tax Free, restaurant, art gallery and fashionable beauty salon. IN mall Concerts and social events are often held. For more than thirty years, beginning in the fall of 1984, the department store held annual three-day sales on popular brands at heavily discounted prices. The action was called “Three Crazy Days”.
Special Events
Every year on May 4th a ceremony takes place in Dam Square. dedicated to the Day in memory of those killed during the Second World War.
Before Christmas, a city tree is installed in Dam Square and Christmas markets are organized.
In spring and autumn, the area turns into a fun fair, during which folk festivals, concerts and entertainment shows are held.
How to get to Dam Square
Damrak Street leads straight from Amsterdam Central Station to Dam Square. The distance is no more than 700 meters, so it is recommended to walk along it.
Stops public transport, having the same name “Dam”, are located on different sides of the central square of Amsterdam. You can reach them:
- by trams - No. 2, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 24;
- by buses - No. 282, 284, 285, 287, 288, 289, 291, 293.
The nearest metro stations are lines 51, 53, 54 - "Centraal Station" and "Nieuwmarkt", as well as line 52 - "Rokin". They are located 5-10 minutes walk from the Dam.
You can order a taxi using the mobile apps Uber, TCA Taxi, My Taxi Centrale, etc.
