Piazza Dam
Amsterdam
The Dam is the heart of Amsterdam: the city was born here around 1270. On its west side stands the Royal Palace, built from 1648 as the town hall.
Where the city was born
Around 1270 the locals closed off the river Amstel here, a short distance from the sea. The city's name comes from that: Amstel and dam. In a document from 1275, Count Floris V already mentions the people living "near Amestelledamme".
On top of that dam a square grew up, which became the centre of the city's trade and government. Ships arrived here and fish was sold.
The palace on the square
In the 1600s Amsterdam was among Europe's richest cities, thanks to trade by sea, including with the colonies. To show it off, the city built a new town hall, designed by Jacob van Campen. The front is 79 metres wide and the little tower rises to more than 55 metres.
Under the palace are 13,659 wooden piles, driven into the soft ground. Inside, the Citizens' Hall shows Amsterdam as the centre of the world, with sculptures and paintings.
Today
Since 1808 the building has been a royal palace. The monarch uses it for state visits and ceremonies.
In 2026 the bronze Atlas returned to the back of the roof, after two years of restoration in Antwerp.
