Royal Palace of Amsterdam Palace

Address: Royal Palace of Amsterdam (Koninklijk Paleis), Dam 1, 1012 JS Amsterdam, Netherlands

Website: https://www.paleisamsterdam.nl/en/

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.

The Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis) sits on Dam Square in central Amsterdam. From Amsterdam Centraal station walk south along the Damrak for about 7-10 minutes to Dam Square. From Schiphol Airport it’s roughly 18-20 km (about 20-30 minutes by car depending on traffic) via the A4 and city roads; there is paid parking nearby but public transport to Centraal plus the short walk is usually easiest.

• Visit early on a weekday (right at opening) or late afternoon to avoid the busiest midday crowds on Dam Square; guided tours and timed-entry tickets are limited, so pre-booking online usually saves waiting in line.
• Enter from Dam Square (the main palace entrance) and allow time for the security check; audio guides are provided with admission-use them to get context on the grand ceremonial rooms that many visitors rush past.
• Check the Royal House (Koninklijk Huis) website before you go for closures or state events, since the palace is closed to the public whenever it's in official use and that can happen with little notice.