Situated about a half-mile on Damrak from Central Station, this expansive square is easily accessed by foot, bike or tram. Lined with bars, cafés and shops, it's nearly always crammed with visitors and locals who come to meet, mingle and be entertained. Sometimes fondly referred to as The Dam, it's the historical and social center of Amsterdam.
Since the 13th century, when it was formed by a dam on the river Amstel that kept the waters of the Zuiderzee at bay, Dam Square has served as the heart and soul of the Netherlands' capital city. A magnet for hippies in the freewheeling ’60s, it’s still a year-round, 24/7 hub for protesters, campaigners, sword-swallowers, break dancers and a host of colorful mimes, easily brought to life with a generous tip.
Koninklijk Palace, Former Residence of the Dutch Royal Family
Presiding over the tourists, street entertainers and pigeons that routinely fill it, the grand Royal Palace (Koninklijk Palace), on the west end of Dam Square, lends a note of quiet dignity. While no longer the residence of the Dutch Royal family, the 17th century Neoclassical structure is still the site for official receptions, as well as local fanfare on Queensday and other holidays celebrated by the Dutch.
Amsterdam Shopping and Dutch History
Shopping opportunities abound on The Dam. At De Bijenkorf (The Beehive), Amsterdam’s biggest luxury department store, eclectic treasures fill six floors of upscale offerings. Behind the Queen’s Palace, Magna Plaza, a rare Amsterdam shopping mall, houses a collection of trendy boutiques in an elegant Neo-Gothic structure. Opposite the Royal Palace, the Amsterdam Diamond Center offers Rolex watches and brilliant gems. When a carnival comes to town, buzzing game booths and neon-lit amusement park rides fill the air with pulsating sound and light.
On clear days, the oddly phallic National Memorial in the center of Dam Square makes a fine spot for people-watching. Erected in 1956 to honor Dutch victims of World War II, the imposing white obelisk is engraved with intertwined allegorical figures. Within it, 12 urns store soil taken from 11 Dutch regions and the Dutch East Indies.
NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, One of the Few Five-Star Hotels in Amsterdam
On Sundays, the five-star NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, on Dam Square's south side, offers a lavish buffet brunch. Established in 1866 by polish tailor Adolf Krasnapolski, the luxury Amsterdam hotel was the first in the Netherlands' capital to have warm water, telephones and electricity in all its rooms by the end of the 19th century. Today it’s still one of Amsterdam's top luxury hotels, with 468 rooms and a diverse array of suites, restaurants, bars and public spaces.
A City View of Amsterdam at Madame Tussauds
No visit to The Dam is complete without a stop at Madame Tussauds, where models of Rembrandt, Vermeer or Michael Jackson quietly invite visitors to pose with them. At the top of the building, a stunning city view of Amsterdam takes in the Royal Palace and all of Dam Square.
Melissa Adams - Since 2007, when a trip to Amsterdam inspired my decision to rent out my home in Newport Beach, California and spend nearly half of every ...
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