Royal Palace Amsterdam

The Royal Palace on Dam Square, was originally built as the Town Hall of Amsterdam (1655), but converted into a palace in 1808. When the Palace is not in use by the Royal Family, it is open to the public. The outside of the palace is modestly impressive, but it is nothing compared to the impressive Citizen’s Hall – with the enormous statue of Atlas – and the many rich decorated rooms that you can visit. Paintings and statues by famous artists symbolically refer to the power and wealth of the city of Amsterdam in the Dutch Golden Age.

Impressive wealth

The ground and first floor of the palace are open to the public. The ground floor is mainly reserved as public service area. Via a big staircase, you will enter the first floor, into the impressive Citizens’ Hall. The route – I would advise you to get an audio tour – leads through many rooms that are surrounding the main hall. The rooms are opulently decorated and give a good insight in how life at the court in the 17th century must have been. Paintings by famous artists, such as Ferdinand Bol and Govaert Flinck, and sculptures of the Antwerp sculptor Artus Quellinus symbolically refer to the power and wealth of the city of Amsterdam in the Dutch Golden Age.

The Royal Palace Amsterdam has the largest collection of Empire furniture outside France. After his departure, Louis Napoleon left almost all expensive furniture behind. The furniture, one of the best preserved and most complete Empire collections in the world, is in full glory to be seen.

Summer exhibitions and Royal Awards

Every summer the Royal Palace organises a temporary exhibition that highlights the different aspects of the buildings’ history. Every autumn, Princess Beatrix – a talented artist herself – presents the Royal Awards for Painting to talented young artists, whose work is subsequently exhibited for public viewing.

From Town Hall to Royal Palace

The building of the current Royal Palace roughly knows three important periods: as Town Hall: 1655 – 1808; as Napoleonic Palace (for Napoleon’s brother Louis Napoleon): 1808 – 1813 and as Palace for the House of Orange (Huis van Oranje – the current Royal Family): 1813 – present. The palace is one of the three palaces still used by the Royal Family. It functions mainly for state visits, award ceremonies, New Year’s receptions and other official events. The building also plays a role in royal marriages and in the abdication and inauguration of the Monarch.

Royal Palace Amsterdam

Address: Dam Square, Amsterdam
Website: Royal Palace Amsterdam