Amsterdam central square on the map. Ladies Square and Royal Palace

If you follow the crowd from the station, Dam Square in Amsterdam is the first place tourists will come to in the capital of the Netherlands.

Here you can object and say that the Central Railway Station is also a landmark of Amsterdam and you will be right. Here, next to the station, you can visit and thereby make your own original route and immediately go to, but if you succumb to the flow of people from the station, it will take you first to Damrak Street, and then just 500 meters later to Dam Square itself in Amsterdam .

How to find Dam Square

If giving in to the crowd is not your style and you want to know exactly where to go, then here is a map from the all-knowing Google. The distance between point A (Railway Station) and B (Dam Square) is only 800 meters.

If you are too lazy to walk, then you can travel this distance by tram 4, 9 and 16, you need to get on at the station and get off at the next stop, but it is better to walk this short distance and at the same time see the Berlage stock exchange building. The building is located exactly in the middle of Damrak street.

The Amsterdam Commodity Exchange building took 8 years to construct and opened in 1903, and it was named after the architect according to whose design it was built. Today this building is no longer a stock exchange and is given over to exhibitions and concerts, but it served its function for almost 100 years until the end of the 20th century.

Dam Square in Amsterdam

Having walked 300 meters from the stock exchange building we immediately find ourselves on Dam Square. The name of the square has nothing to do with the Ladies, but is translated from Dutch as Dam. A city was formed around the dam, which was once on the site of this square. And the Damrak street itself along which they walked runs along the Amstel River, which gave the name to the city.

Now in more detail about what can be seen on Dam Square.

Royal Palace – Koninklijk Paleis

This is the most significant building in the capital of the Netherlands and formally belongs to the ruling Monarchs, but at the very beginning it was an ordinary city hall. This is too luxurious a building for a town hall, but if you look at the fact that it was built in 1665, this is the Golden Age of Holland, the time when the country reached its greatest economic prosperity.

The town hall had to change several owners, so when Napoleon captured Holland, he made the town hall his residence, but soon it came into the possession of the royal dynasty of the Netherlands, and in the 20th century it became the property of the state. Today, the once former town hall bears the proud title of a palace and belongs to the Dutch monarchs.

The palace is open to the public from 10.00 to 17.00, the entrance ticket costs 10 €, under 18 years of age are free. The ticket price includes a mobile guide in several languages, including Russian. When visiting the palace, pay attention to the days when it is closed for any official events, and there can be a lot of such days in each month.

National Monument

This memorial is dedicated to the victims of the Second World War. The height of the column is 22 meters, and in the wall of the memorial there are urns with soil from places of mass executions and military cemeteries. Each sculpture on the monument symbolizes something and that is suffering, resistance, devotion, victory, peace and liberation.

Madame Tussauds museum

In Amsterdam, on Dam Square, there is one of the branches of Madame Tussauds. Now this is a real trademark, which began with its founder Marie Tussaud, who made her first wax figure in 1765.

Entrance to the museum costs 23.5 €, but it’s cheaper if you buy it. Up to 16 years old can buy children's ticket for 12/19.5 €, but after 16 only adults, since there are no other discounts here.

New Church – Nieuwe Kerk

It is not for nothing that the church is located next to the royal palace, because the coronations and weddings of many monarchs of the Netherlands took place here. Built almost simultaneously with the palace/town hall in the 15th century. Currently, the church is inactive, and all because during the next restoration it turned out that the Dutch Church did not have enough money to continue the restoration work and the building was transferred to other ownership.

Today the building houses a museum and hosts exhibitions and concerts. The cost of entry to the exhibition is 16 €, owners tourist map I Amsterdam Card ticket will cost 4.5 €.

Shopping centers aren't often tourist attractions, but in this case, this is a historic building built in 1870. From one once small store, a retail chain of 12 has grown throughout the country. The name of the shopping center translates as “Beehive”, which today corresponds very well to a large store.

Magna Plaza Shopping Center (formerly Main Post Office)

And this is another one shopping mall, although it is not located exactly on Dam Square, but behind the Royal Palace. The building is already more than 100 years old; it was built in 1899 and at that time, if you believe the guidebooks, it was a technical miracle.

This building was built for the post office and was supposed to become the Main Post Office of Amsterdam, but the size of the building turned out to be very large and not in demand, since only the first floor was used. In 1992, the building was restored and a shopping center was opened here.

Accommodation near Dam Square

The number of hotels near the square is very large, but since this is the city center, the cost of rooms is usually more than 150 €. If you want to stay not far away and not overpay, then the best option will most likely be a chain hotel, because... chain hotels value their reputation and this is almost always the case good service. Room prices in this hotel start from 100€.

For those who prefer hostels, the closest one is priced from 25 € per bed.

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:

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. 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 royal family are missing, then anyone can look most 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 architectural ensemble 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 provides online broadcast 24 hours a day.

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The “heart” of the capital of the Netherlands, the main square of the city is Dam. It was Dam Square that essentially laid the foundation centuries-old history Amsterdam.

A little history

This story is quite interesting and far from the most banal. Dam Square is a dam on the Amstel River. By the way, the name “Amsterdam” comes from just these two derivatives: “Dam” and “Amstel”. Until the 13th century, several fishing villages were located on the territory of the city. This place was located in a lowland, in a swamp, and was constantly subject to floods. In this regard, a decision was made to build a protective dam. This happened around 1270-1275. Subsequently, the dam was constantly strengthened and expanded. So gradually a square was formed in its place, which united all nearby settlements and marked the beginning of the development of the city.

Today, Dam Square is the center of political, commercial and cultural life not only in Amsterdam, but also in the Netherlands as a whole.

The square stretches approximately 200 meters in length and has an almost rectangular shape. Such scope and space is very atypical for Amsterdam. When you get to the square after narrow canals and cramped sidewalks, houses matching each other, your eyes immediately begin to run wild. But soon your attention will definitely focus on the majestic Royal Palace - the main architectural dominant of Dam Square.

A huge palace rises right in the center of the square. Its height is 90 meters. The Royal Palace was built in 1648, during the so-called “Golden Age” of Holland - the economic prosperity of the state.

All buildings in historical center Amsterdam stands on powerful multi-meter piles, buried in swampy soil. The Royal Palace is no exception; its foundation required a record 13,659 piles 12 meters long! The architecture of the palace belongs to the style of Dutch classicism.

The name of this attraction fully justifies itself - the palace is at the disposal of the Dutch monarch. But not for permanent residence. Various special events take place here: the reception of foreign guests, the ceremony of transferring the throne, weddings of the family of monarchs, etc. This does not happen very often, of course. Therefore, it was decided to make the Royal Palace accessible to tourists.

Inside you will find a huge hall measuring 36 by 18 meters and a height of 27 m, as well as several smaller rooms decorated with paintings by the famous Rembrandt, Bohl and other outstanding Dutch artists.

You can visit the Royal Palace every day from 10 am to 5 pm.

Entrance fee is 10 euros.

As mentioned above, sometimes royal ceremonies are held in the palace and on these days it is closed. Information about the work of the palace can be obtained on the official website, where you can also purchase tickets online.

Other attractions of Dam Square

The Royal Palace is far from the only attraction of Dam Square.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

On the left side (if you stand in the square facing the Royal Palace) is the building of a branch of the famous London Wax Museum Madame Tussauds. There are about 20 such branches around the world, the Amsterdam one is one of the most famous. There are about 50 figures in the museum. Here you can take a photo with Lenin, Einstein, Barack Obama.

A unique opportunity: to look under the skirt of Marilyn Monroe:) The famous Dutch artist Van Gogh is also here, and many, many others.

Purchasing a ticket at the door will cost 23.5 euros, and on the website 19.5 euros- good savings.

New Church (Nieuwe Kerk)

On the right side is the New Church. It is noteworthy that it is quite difficult to call it “new”, because it was built in the 15th century - only a few decades later than the Old Church :) Since then, the Nieuwe Kerk has been repeatedly destroyed, rebuilt and reconstructed, and only in the 17th century it acquired its Gothic appearance , and at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century it was supplemented with neo-Gothic elements.

In fact, the building of this church is incredibly unique, since even after severe fires and destruction there was some surviving part of it that has survived to this day. The modern appearance of the church contains a small piece of each era - a real find for architecture lovers.

On this moment The church does not fulfill its original functions, but is used as an exhibition hall. The cost of visiting depends on the exhibition, on average 8-10 euros. You can find out the theme of the exhibition and the ticket price for it on the official website of the New Church.

National Monument

On Dam Square there was also a place for a memorial in memory of the victims of the Second World War. It is located right at the entrance to the square, on the opposite side from the Royal Palace. The Netherlands, like most European countries, did not resist Hitler for long - only 5 days, after which a pro-German government was installed here with all the ensuing consequences. The 22-meter column was installed in 1956. Every year on May 4, Remembrance Day, a ceremony is held here in memory of those killed in this terrible war.

Dam Square, located in the very center of the city, takes its name from the well-known dam. This dam served as the basis for the construction of Amsterdam in the 13th century. With each decade it grew and became stronger, eventually becoming the largest and most populous square in the Dutch capital. At the very beginning there were two small sites, which eventually merged into one. Today it is perhaps the main tourist and political center of the city.

What is Dam Square?

The square has impressive dimensions - 200 meters long, 100 meters wide. Here, two main streets located along the river bank - Rokin and Damrak - connect. And it is from here that the world-famous Red Light District begins. The main square has been and is now considered the main place for holding various holidays and concerts. But also in common days it is full of tourists from all over the world. It’s not surprising - there’s a lot to see here.

In the western part you can see the magnificent Royal Palace, which belongs to the current queen of the state. Initially, this building was the city hall, but then passed on to the family of monarchs. Access to the palace is open to guests; anyone can see the real royal chambers. Not far from the palace stands the New Church, which, despite its name, was built in the 15th century. It was erected due to the fact that the previous church could no longer accommodate all the parishioners. Today the New Church is not functioning because there is no finance to put it in order. But it sometimes hosts art exhibitions and music concerts.

Attractions of Dam Square

The world-famous wax museum, founded by Madame Tussauds, is also located here. This is not the main museum, but its branch, but the very first of all existing ones. Here you can admire the figures of famous scientists, politicians, athletes, and singers. The museum is very popular among tourists. You can not only look at the figures, but also take a photo with them.

In the middle of the square stands the majestic National Monument, rightly considered the most important monument in the Netherlands. It was erected in memory of those killed in World War II. Every year at the beginning of May, Remembrance Day is celebrated here with a touching ceremony.

On Dam Square there is a legendary 5-star Dutch hotel, known throughout the world - Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. Its rich history dates back to 1866. The hotel has almost five hundred prestigious rooms for elite or simply wealthy guests, and also provides a lot of entertainment.

How to get there?

You have to try hard not to find Dam Square, because, as already mentioned, the main city roads lead to it. From the central station you just need to walk along Damrak Boulevard, full of souvenir shops and other small shops, and now you are on the famous square. Most travelers get there this way.

Tel. +31 14 020

Historical information

The square is located on a dam built on the Amstel River in the 13th century, which is why the attraction received its name. This structure provided transport links between settlements on different banks. The dam was constantly being completed, and the city gradually blossomed around it.

Over time, the square turned into a commercial center settlement. In the place where goods brought on ships were unloaded, a large fish market opened. In the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered its liquidation. At the same time, the mouth of the Amstel River was filled in, as a result of which Dam Square was cut off from the water. In 1837, a stock exchange was organized here, which functioned until the beginning of the last century. A luxury department store, Benkorf, opened in its place. At the dawn of the 20th century, Dam Square gained fame among the entire population of the Netherlands. Mass meetings of national importance began to be organized here.

Popular attractions

On the western side of the square is the Royal Palace, a historical building in the neoclassical style. From the 17th to the 19th centuries there was a town hall here, then the residence of the ruling dynasty began to be located here. At the moment, the palace is at the disposal of King Willem-Alexander. In 2009, the building was reconstructed. Now every tourist has the opportunity to explore the palace during the departure of the royal family.

Near the king's residence is the Gothic building of the New Church, erected in the 15th century. The structure was built as an alternative to the Old Church, which could not accommodate all the parishioners. Since 1979, no services have been held here, but exhibitions of various artists and organ concerts have been held.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is also located nearby. Its visitors have the opportunity to get acquainted with Dutch political and cultural life– there are copies of many here famous people states and show business stars.

Opposite is the National Monument, designed by the architect Jacobus Oud in 1956 in memory of the Dutch soldiers of the Second World War. It is the site of an annual ceremony - Remembrance Day - dedicated to the people of the country who fell victims of hostilities. It is worth noting that Dam Square itself became the site of a wartime tragedy. On May 7, 1945, after the surrender of Germany, the city center was filled with joyful residents preparing to greet the liberators. The fun of those present was interrupted by machine gun fire. The Germans installed small arms on the balcony of one of the buildings and began to mercilessly destroy civilians. According to sources, 22 people were killed and 120 were seriously injured.

Tourist Information

Walking distance from the central railway station Amsterdam to Dam Square takes no more than 10 minutes. Most excursion sightseeing programs around the city start from here. Their cost varies from 30 to 70 euros depending on the number of sites visited. The Krasnapolsky Hotel is located here - you can stay there during your stay in the Netherlands. In order to economize cash, experienced tourists recommend choosing hotels remote from the center. Dam Square has a large number of cozy cafes where you can relax after a long excursion. In various stores you can purchase interesting souvenirs for family and friends. Ideal place For avid shopaholics there will be a Benkorf department store.