What is the name of the central square of Amsterdam, where the Royal Palace is located? Dam Square in Amsterdam What is the name of the central square of Amsterdam
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 750 meters south 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 there is a Gothic New Church(Nieuwe Kerk), buildings of the 15th century and the famous Museum wax figures Madame Tussauds.
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 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 political life and the place where the town hall was built. Samu market square 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 on the orders 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. A new place that was reclaimed from water element, built up.
The stock exchange appeared in 1837, 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 went down in history as the site of a 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.
On the square they constantly conduct public events, demonstrations, including National Day of Remembrance. 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”.
"Heart" of the capital of the Netherlands, main square cities - 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 the 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 Amsterdam, but 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 start 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. 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 erected in the 15th century - only a few decades later old church:) Since then, Nieuwe Kerk has been repeatedly destroyed, rebuilt and reconstructed, and only in the 17th century it acquired its Gothic appearance, and in the late 19th - early 20th centuries 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 immediately 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.
If you follow the crowd of people who don't speak Dutch, you'll end up on Damrak, a wide boulevard lined with souvenir shops, at the end of which is central square Dam (“Dam”). This route can be called traditional for the many tourists who come to the city and is an ideal introductory walk to the sights of the city.
By the way, Dam Square is not named after lovely women, everything is much more prosaic... “dam”, translated from Dutch, means “dam”. So, what is remarkable about this place? In addition to the fact that the square is the heart of the Dutch capital, it houses five attractions of the Dutch capital.
The obelisk, rising on the eastern half of Dam Square, is the main monument built as a tribute to the victims of the Second World War. The monumental sculptures and bas-reliefs on the obelisk symbolically depict the suffering and pain of wartime. The national monument serves as the site of an annual ceremony dedicated to the people who died as victims of the war, which takes place on May 4th.
Royal Palace.
One of the three palaces in, at the disposal of the ruling. The building, built in the 17th century, served as the city hall, and in 1813 it became the property of the King of the Netherlands. The palace is located on the western side of Dam Square and is currently used both for state visits and official receptions, as well as for royal weddings and the transfer of the throne. In June 2009, after significant reconstruction, the palace opened its doors to the general public and anyone can view it if given time the palace is not used by the royal family.
New church.
Near, located beautiful church XV century, made in Gothic style. The New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) was built as an alternative to the overcrowded Old Church (Oude Kerk), which could no longer accommodate everyone. Since 1979, the church has not been used for services, since the next reconstruction was beyond the means of the Dutch Reformed Church. Today, the New Church is popular place for art exhibitions and organ concerts.
Madame Tussauds museum".
They have their own, which is located opposite, and from the windows of the top floor of the museum there is a magnificent view of Amsterdam Square. Museum visitors have an incredibly easy and fun way to experience Dutch culture: the museum displays figures famous people countries such as Prime Minister Jan Balkenende, and, of course, world celebrities.
Madame Tussauds museum" Store “De Bijenkorf”
“De Bijenkorf”, translated from Dutch as “the beehive”, is a luxury store in . Founded in 1870, it has grown from a modest shop on a narrow street to its current monumental home at the intersection of Damrak Street and Dam Square, as well as a dozen stores throughout the country. “De Bijenkorf” - perfect place for avid shopaholics.
Store "De Bijenkorf" Here it is, Dam Square - the very heart of Amsterdam
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 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 a significant part of its history, the Dam was a place of lively trade and a 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 the building of which there is a store today, 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. Attention is drawn to peacefully adjacent buildings of 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 was carried out 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 erected. 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, which 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 railway 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. According to the sundial erected on the Nieuwe Kerk tower, long time All city clocks were checked. Noble persons have been crowned and married in the church (most recently, the current King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, and his wife). Today within the walls religious building organ music concerts are held and exhibitions are organized. 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 historical building XIX 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 the 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 a 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 with different sides 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.