monument
Royal Palace Amsterdam
Built as Amsterdam's town hall in 1665, converted to a royal palace in 1808: one of the great Dutch Golden Age buildings on Dam Square.
Photo: giulio rodoni / Google
The Royal Palace Amsterdam (Paleis op de Dam) on Dam Square is one of three official residences of the Dutch monarch, used today for state functions, official ceremonies, and occasional public events. The building wasn't built as a palace, though — it was Amsterdam's town hall, completed in 1665 by architect Jacob van Campen at the height of the Dutch Golden Age, intended as a Dutch declaration of independence in architecture: a Classical building grander than any town hall in Europe at the time.
What you'll see inside
The Citizens' Hall (Burgerzaal) is the centerpiece — a single 30-meter-high room with marble floors inlaid with the city's coat of arms and three brass globes (eastern hemisphere, western hemisphere, and the celestial sphere) marking Amsterdam's place at the center of 17th-century commerce. The hall is theatrically large, designed to overwhelm the visitor in the way Italian Renaissance palaces did.
Surrounding the Citizens' Hall are the Tribunal (where capital sentences were once pronounced — its sculpture program is heavy with images of justice), the Aldermen's chambers, and the rooms used by the magistrates of the city. When the building became a royal palace in 1808 under Louis Napoleon (Napoleon's brother and king of Holland), much of the furniture was updated to Empire-style; that furniture remains in the rooms today, in incongruous combination with the 17th-century architecture.
When the palace closes
The palace is used by the royal family for state functions — receptions for visiting heads of state, royal investitures, and the king's annual Prinsjesdag balcony appearance. These events close the palace to visitors for one to several days at a time, and the schedule is announced only a few weeks ahead. Check paleisamsterdam.nl before booking your trip.
Most visits take 60-90 minutes. The free audioguide (multiple languages, included with admission) is essential — the rooms aren't labeled, and without context the connection between the marble floors and Amsterdam's 17th-century commercial empire is invisible.
What to expect
The palace is open most days when not in use by the royal family — typically 10:00-17:00. Tickets are €12.50 adults via paleisamsterdam.nl. Walk-up tickets are sometimes available but timed-slot online booking is recommended.
The palace is partially wheelchair accessible (Citizens' Hall yes, upper rooms via lift). Photography is permitted without flash. Bags are checked at the entrance; no large backpacks allowed. Allow 60-90 minutes for a focused visit.
Tips from locals
Check paleisamsterdam.nl for closures before your trip — the palace closes unpredictably for royal events, and there's no refund-on-spot policy if you arrive on a closed day with a pre-purchased ticket from a third party.
The Citizens' Hall fills with daylight from above around midday. For photography, the 11:00-13:00 window is the brightest.
Pair the palace with the Nieuwe Kerk next door — both face Dam Square, both are world-class, and a combined ticket sometimes runs €18 instead of two separate €12-14 tickets.
The bookshop in the palace exit gallery has the only good selection of Dutch Golden Age books in central Amsterdam. Worth a 10-minute browse.
Did you know?
It was built in the 17th century not as a palace but as Amsterdam's city hall, at the height of the Dutch Golden Age.
It rests on 13,659 wooden piles driven into the marshy ground — a number Dutch schoolchildren learn by heart.
It became a royal palace in 1808 under Louis Napoleon, the brother of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The vast Citizens' Hall has inlaid marble maps of the world set into the floor, with Amsterdam at the centre.
It's still one of three palaces used by the Dutch royal family for official functions.
FAQ
- Is the Royal Palace open every day?
- Most days, but the palace closes unpredictably for royal events. Check paleisamsterdam.nl before your trip — there are sometimes 1-3 closures per month.
- How much does it cost?
- €12.50 for adults; under-18s enter free. Tickets via paleisamsterdam.nl or at the door (timed-slot online booking recommended).
- Is the audio guide included?
- Yes, the audio guide is included with admission and available in multiple languages.
- How long does a visit take?
- 60-90 minutes for a focused visit. The audio guide leads through 8-10 main rooms.
- Can I take photographs?
- Yes, without flash. The Citizens' Hall photographs best around midday when natural light fills the room from above.
Royal Palace, Amsterdam
Dam, 1001 AM, Amsterdam