Hotels near Royal Palace Amsterdam

The Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis) anchors Dam Square and is one of Amsterdam's most prominent landmarks. Built in 1655 as the city hall during the Dutch Golden Age, the building was converted to a royal palace under Louis Napoleon in 1808. King Willem-Alexander still uses it for state functions, but it is open to the public most of the year.

The interior is far more impressive than the austere grey exterior suggests. The Citizens' Hall - a vast marble-floored room with maps of the world inlaid in the floor and the ceiling painted to depict Amsterdam at the centre of the universe - captures the peak confidence of the Dutch Republic. An audio guide is included with your EUR 12.50 ticket (free for under-18s). Allow about an hour. The palace closes occasionally for royal events - check the schedule before visiting.

Pro Tip: Combine with the adjacent Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), which hosts rotating exhibitions. The National Monument on the opposite end of Dam Square commemorates WWII victims and is worth a stop.