DK Travel : Amsterdam : Dam Square

Dam Square

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The very heart of Amsterdam, Dam Square – or “the Dam”, as the locals call it – marks the site of the original 13th-century dam on the Amstel river (see The Grachtengordel). An architectural parade spanning six centuries includes the glorious Nieuwe Kerk and the Koninklijke Paleis. By the 17th century, with the town hall here and the Exchange nearby, the Dam had become the focus of Amsterdam’s political and commercial life. The passage of years may have eroded some of its grandeur – but certainly none of its colour or its vitality.
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Top 10 Sights

1. Koninklijk Paleis

Built as the town hall, Jacob van Campen’s unsmiling Classical edifice symbolizes the civic power of 17th-century Amsterdam. It is still used for state occasions (see 2002: Wedding of the Crown Prince).
2. Nieuwe Kerk

Now a cultural centre, the Nieuwe Kerk has hosted royal events since 1814. Its treasures include a Jacob van Campen organ and an elaborately carved pulpit by Albert Vinckenbrinck.
3. Nationaal Monument

This 22 m (70 ft) obelisk commemorates the Dutch killed in World War II. Embedded in the wall behind are urns containing soil from the Dutch provinces and colonies.
4. Madame Tussaud’s Scenerama

Displays at this outpost of the London waxworks range from the fascinating to the bizarre. Special effects, including animatronics, bring to life scenes from Holland’s past.
5. Damrak

Damrak was once the medieval city’s busiest canal, with ships sailing up to be unloaded at the Dam. In 1672 the canal was filled in, and Damrak developed into the hectic shopping street it is today.
6. De Bijenkorf

6. De Bijenkorf

Amsterdam’s bestknown department store has a vast perfumery, designer fashion boutiques and much more.
7. Rokin

The Rokin had its heyday in the 19th century, when its broad sweep was a promenade for the well-to-do.
8. Kalverstraat

Music shops jostle for space with tacky clothes stores at the Dam end of this pedestrian shopping street.
9. Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky

Adolf Wilhelm Krasnapolsky, an emigré Polish tailor with ambition, rented the down-at-heel Nieuwe Poolsche Koffiehuis in the 1870s, swiftly transforming it into a fashionable hotel.
10. Street Performances and Events

10. Street Performances and Events

Busking, mime, funfairs, book fairs, exhibitions, concerts – such things have gone on in the Dam since J Cabalt introduced his puppet show in 1900.

Practical Information

There are cafés in Madame Tussaud’s, De Bijenkorf and the Nieuwe Kerk – the latter with a terrace overlooking the Dam. Go to one of the concerts, lectures or exhibitions held at the Nieuwe Kerk. Koninklijk Paleis: closed for renovation until 2008 (check website:www.koninklijkhuis.nl). 020 620 4060 Admission: adults €4.50; children 6–16 €3.60; under 6s free Nieuwe Kerk: only open during exhibitions 020 638 6909 Admission charge Madame Tussaud’s Scenerama: Peek & Cloppenburg Building 020 522 1010. www.madametussauds.nl Open 10am–5:30pm daily. Admission: adults 17–59 €23, over 60s €20, children 5–16 €17.50; under 5s free

Reviews

mshercliff

I've visited Amsterdam twice in the past five years and one of its most attractive features is Dam Square. Dam Square is hard to miss. In fact, if you ever get lost, I bet you any money you will find yourself in Dam Square. All roads lead to one and all that jazz... Dam Square is alive with activity any day of the week. Forgetting the many attractions it has to offer, you can find entertainment without spending a penny courtesy of the street entertainment. Fire-eating, juggling, unicycling... Where else in the world can you be entertained on the street, captivated for pretty much free? Of course, they like you to pay them for the show but I never felt disheartened giving a few EURO for a good show. And when the entertainers have gone, why not pay some attention to the "other" performers? You may see Darth Vadar, The Mask, possibly a Stormtrooper. The Square is never empty of those men who stand on small stands for hours on end, saying nothing and dressed like a pillock. But I take my hat off to them... I couldn't do that all day! They probably make more money than I do each day, too. Overall, Dam Square is a fantastic place to visit. Plenty of food, attractions and entertainment. It's our first stop when we land in Amsterdam and I can't wait to return next year.

about a year ago

cyberem78

Dam Square has certainly been a victim of commercialism. When I visited ten years ago there was a busker dancing with a string puppet on the cobblestone street. Now the area is packed with noisy funfair, fruit machines and fast food trucks. The beautiful old surrounding buildings are sadly overshadowed by the spinning big wheels. Madame Tussauds, one of the attractions around Dam Sqaure, is a great tourist attraction but only seems to add to the gaudy feel of the area.

about a year ago

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