Dam Square

Dam Square, known simply as the Dam, is the central square of Amsterdam and the place where the city began. In the thirteenth century, the people who lived on the banks of the Amstel built a dam across the river to hold back the tidewater, and the settlement that grew beside it took its name from that structure: Amsterdam, the dam on the Amstel. The square now occupies the site, and it has been the scene of markets, proclamations, celebrations and demonstrations for around seven and a half centuries. It is sometimes called the belly button of the city, and every visitor passes through it sooner or later.

The buildings around the square sum up the story of the city. The Royal Palace stands on the western side, a massive classical building of sandstone designed by Jacob van Campen and built between 1648 and 1665 as the town hall of Amsterdam at the height of the Golden Age. It was meant to express the wealth and power of the city, and the interior is decorated with marble, sculpture and paintings by artists such as Rembrandt's pupils. Louis Napoleon, the brother of Napoleon, took it as a palace in 1808, and it is still used by the royal family for official occasions. Tickets for the interior can be bought on site.

Next to the palace stands the Nieuwe Kerk, the New Church, a Gothic building from the fifteenth century that has been the coronation church of the Dutch monarchs since 1814. Despite its name, it is not especially new, and it hosts major exhibitions as well as concerts and ceremonies. On the opposite side of the square rises the National Monument, a tall white stone pillar erected in 1956 to remember the Dutch victims of the Second World War. Every year on the fourth of May, the national commemoration takes place here, with a two-minute silence at eight in the evening, and the atmosphere is very moving.

The Dam is also a lively public space. Street performers, pigeons, tourists and local people mingle on the granite paving, and the shopping streets, department stores and cafes lead off in all directions. The famous Damrak, once a harbour, runs towards Central Station, and the Kalverstraat is the main pedestrian shopping street. The square is the starting point for many walking tours.

The square suits anyone visiting the city, and it is free and open at all times. It can be crowded, especially in summer, so watch your belongings. Early morning is the best time to see the architecture without the crowds, and the evenings, when the buildings are lit, have a special charm.