Royal Palace of Amsterdam

The Royal Palace of Amsterdam (Koninklijk Paleis) is a monumental 17th-century building on Dam Square that served originally as Amsterdam’s city hall and later became a royal palace. It is one of the primary state rooms used by the Dutch monarchy for official functions.

Built in the mid-17th century during Amsterdam’s Golden Age as the city’s new town hall, the building was repurposed in 1808 as a royal palace during the Napoleonic period and has since served for state receptions and royal events. Conservation and curatorial work has preserved both decorative schemes and structural elements from its civic and royal phases.

Located on Dam Square in central Amsterdam, the palace occupies a prominent city-centre position adjacent to other historic sites and main transport routes.

• Civic origins and royal use: Originally built as Amsterdam's city hall in the 17th century, the building was converted into a royal palace in the early 19th century and is one of three palaces used by the Dutch monarchy.

What to See #

• Burgerzaal (Main Hall): The central marble main hall (Burgerzaal) used historically for civic ceremonies and now visible on public tours.
• State rooms: State rooms and reception chambers used for royal and state functions when the palace is in service to the Dutch Royal House.
• Public tour routes: Publicly accessible exhibition areas and guided-tour routes that explain the building's civic origins and later royal use.