Located on Amsterdam’s main square, the Dam, the Royal Palace in Amsterdam is one of the city’s major highlights. Built in the 17th century as the City Hall, the building has a fascinating history. At the time of its construction, it was considered the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Continue reading to learn more about the Royal Palace in Amsterdam and tips for visiting it.
Royal Palace in Amsterdam
Sometimes overshadowed by the more famous museums in Amsterdam, the Royal Palace is a great place to visit and learn about both the history of Amsterdam and the Dutch Royal family. It’s the largest building from the 17th century, making it one of the sites you shouldn’t miss while in the Dutch capital.
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History of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam
The Royal Palace is one of three official royal palaces used by the Dutch Royal Family, and it is the only one located in Amsterdam. The other two are situated in The Hague.
Interestingly, the Royal Palace was not originally built as a palace. It was constructed as the City Hall of Amsterdam in 1656 after the old medieval City Hall burned down. This building symbolises the power that Amsterdam wielded in the 17th century, making it one of the most important cities in the world at that time.
The building was commissioned by Amsterdam mayor Nicolaes Tulp. You may know him from one of Rembrandt’s Anatomy Lessons, which he painted in De Waag. The famous painting is displayed at the Mauritshuis in The Hague today.
The building was designed by one of the most famous architects of that time, Jacob van Campen. With a facade measuring 79 meters wide and 55 meters high, it was one of the largest buildings in Europe for many years. Even before it was constructed, the building was already considered the “Eighth Wonder of the World”.
For the next 150 years, it served as a City Hall until Napoleon conquered the Netherlands and appointed his brother, Louis Bonaparte, as the Dutch King.
In 1808, the new king moved his court to Amsterdam after initially ruling the Kingdom of Holland from The Hague and Utrecht. King Louis converted the public rooms of the City Hall into the first museum of the Netherlands while using the rest of the building for his court. He even added a small balcony overlooking Dam Square and repurposed the basement cells into wine cellars.
After the Oranje-Nassau family began ruling the Netherlands, they decided to continue using the building as a royal palace. However, the family resides primarily in their palace in The Hague.
Today, the Royal Palace in Amsterdam is reserved for special events and official receptions, particularly for foreign state representatives.
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How to visit the Royal Palace in Amsterdam
The Royal Palace is open to visitors whenever possible, although access is restricted while the Dutch Royal Family is in residence. Visitors can explore galleries and rooms, learn about the palace’s history, and admire various artworks on display.
An audio tour is included in the entrance ticket (I included a link to them later in this article), and you can choose between a shorter or longer tour. I enjoyed listening to explanations and learning more about the history of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam.
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Royal Palace in Amsterdam Highlights
Though every corner of the Royal Palace is fascinating and beautiful, here are some must-see highlights:
Citizens’ Hall – The main gallery of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam is one of its highlights. Including stone representations of the world, the 6-metre-tall Atlas statue, and the Amsterdam Maiden, this room is filled with wonderful details.
Govert Flinck and Ferdinand Bol’s paintings – These two students of one of the most famous Dutch painters of all time, Rembrandt van Rijn, created paintings through which they told the story of Amsterdam.
Empire furniture – When Louis Bonaparte became the Dutch King and converted the City Hall into the Royal Palace, he refurbished it with furniture in French fashion. A lot of original Empire furniture is still on display within the palace, making it the largest collection of its kind outside of France.
Tribunal – With its marble statues made by sculptor Artus Quellinus, the Tribunal is one of the rooms you shouldn’t miss in Amsterdam’s Royal Palace. That part of the palace also has a grim history, because it was where the death sentences were pronounced while the building served as a city hall.
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Surprising facts about the Royal Palace in Amsterdam
- The Royal Palace in Amsterdam was built on 13,659 wooden poles, preventing it from sinking into the swampy Amsterdam soil. They were brought from Norway.
- The dark grey facade of the building was much lighter originally. However, a light yellow stone got much darker because of all the dirt and air pollution it absorbed throughout the centuries.
Useful info for visiting the Royal Palace in Amsterdam
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm
Address: Dam 1, Amsterdam
Entrance tickets: Book your online tickets through this link.
Temporary exhibitions: The Amsterdam Royal Palace is home to some interesting temporary exhibitions. Check out their official website at this link to see what’s on display during your visit.
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The Royal Palace is a unique place in Amsterdam and a place you shouldn’t miss during your visit to the Dutch capital. From its architecture, artworks on display, to its history, it offers something for everyone.
Cover photo by Frans Ruiter on Unsplash
