Dam Square is the historic heart of Amsterdam, marking the very spot where a 13th-century dam across the Amstel River gave the city its name. What began as a gathering point for merchants, fishmongers, and artisans grew by the 14th century into the official center of the growing city, and it has remained Amsterdam’s civic and social hub ever since.
The square is framed by three major landmarks. The Royal Palace, built between 1648 and 1655 as the city hall before becoming one of the Dutch monarchy’s official residences, dominates the western side and is open for tours much of the year. Beside it stands the Nieuwe Kerk, a Gothic-style church rebuilt after a 17th-century fire that still hosts royal weddings and inaugurations. On the eastern edge, the 22-meter National Monument commemorates the victims of the Second World War.
Today Dam Square is as lively as ever, ringed by shops, street performers, and Madame Tussauds, and it’s the natural starting point for exploring Amsterdam’s surrounding canals and old town streets on foot.
