Royal Palace of Amsterdam, Royal palace on Dam Square, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is a Dutch classicist building on Dam Square, designed by Jacob van Campen and completed in 1656. Its pale grey stone facade has a central block and flanking wings, rows of tall windows between flat pilasters, a carved pediment with relief figures, and a green copper cupola with a clock and spire. Inside, the Citizens' Hall has a marble floor inlaid with maps of the hemispheres and a star chart.
The building was designed by Jacob van Campen and opened as Amsterdam's city hall on 29 July 1655, standing on 13,659 wooden piles. It served as the stadhuis until 1808, when King Louis I, brother of Napoleon, moved his court to Amsterdam and had it converted into a royal palace. After the fall of Napoleon it passed to the Dutch Royal House in 1815, and in 1936 it became property of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The great hall displays massive paintings depicting scenes from Dutch history, while the walls and ceilings carry gilded details. Visitors can walk through the official reception rooms where diplomatic meetings still take place today.
The building usually opens between 10:00 and 17:00, but may close temporarily during official state events. The main rooms are located on the first floor and can be reached by a wide staircase.
A 6-meter statue of Atlas stands at the rear and carries a globe on its shoulders. This figure recalls the building's earlier role as a center of world trade.
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