Royal Palace Amsterdam

The Royal Palace on Dam Square was built as Amsterdam's city hall at a time when the city was among the richest ports in the world. Construction began in 1648 to a classical design by Jacob van Campen, with Daniël Stalpaert also involved, and the building was meant to show off the confidence and wealth of the young Dutch Republic. It housed the city government, the courts and the exchange bank for well over a century.

Its royal history began in the early 19th century, when Louis Napoleon, brother of Napoleon Bonaparte and King of Holland, turned the city hall into his palace. It has remained a royal palace ever since, and today it is one of the palaces at the disposal of the Dutch monarch. The King uses it for state visits, official receptions, award ceremonies and other royal occasions.

Inside, the highlight is the vast Citizens' Hall, with marble floors inlaid with maps of the eastern and western hemispheres and a celestial map, and sculpture celebrating Amsterdam as the centre of the world. Around it are former council chambers, the tribunal where death sentences were once pronounced, and rooms furnished with Empire pieces from Louis Napoleon's time, one of the largest such collections in the world. The scale and decoration give a vivid sense of how Amsterdam saw itself in its Golden Age.

Because it is a working royal building, the palace closes for official events and has set opening periods, so check the dates on the website before planning your day. Tickets can be bought online or at the palace itself. A visit suits anyone interested in history, architecture or royalty, and the open halls make it manageable for families. Allow an hour or so, and longer if you want to study the sculpture and paintings in detail.

The palace occupies the west side of Dam Square, a ten-minute walk from Central Station, with tram stops on the square. The Nieuwe Kerk, where Dutch monarchs are inaugurated, stands right next door and often hosts exhibitions, and the National Monument faces the palace across the square. The shopping streets of Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk start from Dam, and the canal ring is a short walk west.